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Where Would Jon Stewart Be Without Fox News?

With the first Republican debate happening the same night as his farewell episode, Jon Stewart is exiting The Daily Show during a singular moment for his sworn nemesis—and perfect foil.
Host Jon Stewart at 'The Daily Show with Jon Stewart' covers the Midterm elections in Austin with 'Democalypse 2014: South By South Mess' at ZACH Theatre on October 28, 2014 in Austin, Texas.

Host Jon Stewart at 'The Daily Show with Jon Stewart' covers the Midterm elections in Austin with 'Democalypse 2014: South By South Mess' at ZACH Theatre on October 28, 2014 in Austin, Texas.

Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images for Comedy Central
Will Leitch
Updated on

Late last week, comedian Wyatt Cenac, a writer and correspondent for The Daily Show With Jon Stewart for nearly five years, appeared on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast. There, he claimed that he left the show because of an argument he had with host Jon Stewart.  It has been reported that the fight was because Stewart had been using a voice impersonating Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain, which Cenac felt was reminiscent of Kingfish, the notoriously racist character on Amos ‘n’ Andy. But that’s not quite right.

Cenac was offended by the voice, and Stewart was furious when Cenac called him out, screaming “F*** off! I’m done with you!” at the comic until Cenac left the building and cried. (He left the show a few months later.) But the key point missing from the anecdote is why Stewart was so sensitive at that particular moment. It wasn’t because of Cenac: It was because of Fox News.