Gay rights defender Jon Stewart to step down as ‘The Daily Show’ host

Jon Stewart, who hosts Comedy Central’s ‘The Daily Show’, has announced that he will step down later this year.

The sarcastic host, who was a strong advocate of LGBT rights, has often, eloquently taken down arguments around issues such as same-sex marriage, or gay athletes being able to come out.

“This show doesn’t deserve an even slightly restless host and neither do you,” Stewart told his audience on Tuesday, on announcing his departure.

Last year, Stewart shot down every argument against gay players being accepted in the NFL, and even goes further to question the “controversy” NFL teams would dodge by not signing Michael Sam because of his sexuality.

After assessing Sam’s athletic record, Stewart joked: “it’s as though sexual orientation has nothing to do with physical strength.”

Stewart in 2013 heavily critical of some arguments heard in the US Supreme Court around equal marriage.

He previously sent two men undercover, posing as a gay couple, to debunk the idea that people in the South were homophobic.

Comedy Central president Michele Ganeless paid tribute to Stewart, saying: “His comedic brilliance is second to none.”

• Dec 01 2023

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