Jon Stewart's Absurd Claims on Cancel Culture

Jon Stewart's latest take on cancel culture is as bewildering as it is misguided. The comedian, once a bipartisan humorist, has shifted to outright propaganda, attempting to pin the blame for cancel culture on Donald Trump and conservatives. This narrative is not only inaccurate but also ignores the Left's clear responsibility for the culture of silencing dissent.

Consider Stewart's 2021 claim that cancel culture was a myth. He argued, “People that talk about cancel culture never seem to shut the f*** up about it… It’s not ‘you can’t say it,’ it’s that when you say it—look, the internet has democratized criticism.” According to Stewart, what we experience isn't cancel culture but a relentless culture of critique.

This view is blatantly disconnected from reality. Take, for example, Roseanne Barr, whose career was obliterated by one ill-considered tweet, despite her immediate apology. Or the Seattle comedy club that canceled four comedians for telling the “wrong” jokes. Comedians today often self-censor to avoid cancellation, stifling the very essence of their craft.

Stewart’s inconsistency is evident. Later in 2021, he defended Dave Chappelle when cancel culture targeted his Netflix special “The Closer” for jokes about the trans community. Stewart's attempt to add context to Chappelle's comedy ignored how Barr’s context didn't save her. The chilling impact on comedians is real—if even Chappelle can be threatened with cancellation, what hope is there for his peers?

Moreover, cancel culture isn’t limited to entertainment. Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker faced calls for his firing over his pro-Catholic views, showing that even sports figures aren't immune.

Stewart's recent re-engagement with the cancel culture debate aims to malign Trump and the Right. He absurdly claims that the Right celebrates being silenced, ignoring that the Left controls most major media and cultural institutions. The idea that MAGA supporters are the real perpetrators of cancel culture is a laughable deflection.

Stewart himself has felt the Left's wrath. In 2021, he suggested on “The Late Show” that COVID-19 likely originated from a lab, a statement that led to accusations of racism and aligning with the alt-right. More recently, he admitted President Joe Biden's frailty on “The Daily Show,” only to face a ferocious backlash, forcing him to toe the line in subsequent appearances.

Cancel culture is a product of the Left's intolerance for dissent. Stewart’s attempts to shift the blame are insincere and ignore the glaring truth. By denying the Left's role in cancel culture, Stewart hopes to shield himself from the very forces he helped unleash.

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