Former ‘Daily Show’ writer: Jon Stewart told me to ‘f— off’ when challenged about black joke

The Hollywood Reporter
By THR Staff, The Hollywood Reporter
Updated 11:32 AM EDT, Mon July 27, 2015
Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," with longtime host Jon Stewart, has produced many correspondents who have gone on to bigger things. Here's a look at some of the show's more prominent alumni.
Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," with longtime host Jon Stewart, has produced many correspondents who have gone on to bigger things. Here's a look at some of the show's more prominent alumni.
Rick Kern/Getty Images for Comedy Central
Writer/comedian Wyatt Cenac was a member of "The Daily Show" team both in front of and behind the camera for over four years, ending in 2012.
Writer/comedian Wyatt Cenac was a member of "The Daily Show" team both in front of and behind the camera for over four years, ending in 2012.
Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images/File
Steve Carell was a "Daily Show" correspondent from 1999 to 2005, when he left to star in NBC's hit sitcom "The Office." Carell has since launched a thriving movie career and earned an Oscar nomination for his role in 2014's "Foxcatcher."
Steve Carell was a "Daily Show" correspondent from 1999 to 2005, when he left to star in NBC's hit sitcom "The Office." Carell has since launched a thriving movie career and earned an Oscar nomination for his role in 2014's "Foxcatcher."
Everett Collection
After more than eight years as a "Daily Show" correspondent, Stephen Colbert left in 2005 to launch a spinoff built around his blustery, right-wing alter ego. Colbert wrapped his show in December 2014 and will drop his blowhard shtick to succeed David Letterman as the host of the "Late Show" on CBS when Letterman retires later this year.
After more than eight years as a "Daily Show" correspondent, Stephen Colbert left in 2005 to launch a spinoff built around his blustery, right-wing alter ego. Colbert wrapped his show in December 2014 and will drop his blowhard shtick to succeed David Letterman as the host of the "Late Show" on CBS when Letterman retires later this year.
Frank Micelotta/Getty Images
British comedian John Oliver spent seven years on the show before leaving in 2014 to launch "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver," a late-night talk show on HBO.
British comedian John Oliver spent seven years on the show before leaving in 2014 to launch "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver," a late-night talk show on HBO.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Comedy Central
Larry Wilmore was the show's "senior black correspondent" until he left to host "The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore," which premiered in January on Comedy Central.
Larry Wilmore was the show's "senior black correspondent" until he left to host "The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore," which premiered in January on Comedy Central.
FROM COMEDY CENTRAL
Rob Corddry was on the show for four years before quitting to appear in such movie comedies as "Blades of Glory," "Semi Pro," "Hot Tub Time Machine" and "Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay."
Rob Corddry was on the show for four years before quitting to appear in such movie comedies as "Blades of Glory," "Semi Pro," "Hot Tub Time Machine" and "Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay."
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Ed Helms, second from left, parlayed his four years on "The Daily Show" into memorable roles on NBC's "The Office" and in "The Hangover" movies.
Ed Helms, second from left, parlayed his four years on "The Daily Show" into memorable roles on NBC's "The Office" and in "The Hangover" movies.
Frank Micelotta/Getty Images
After two years of appearances on the show, Josh Gad left in 2011 to pursue a blossoming stage and film career. He has appeared on Broadway in the original production of "The Book of Mormon," voiced the snowman Olaf in "Frozen" and co-starred with Kevin Hart in "The Wedding Ringer."
After two years of appearances on the show, Josh Gad left in 2011 to pursue a blossoming stage and film career. He has appeared on Broadway in the original production of "The Book of Mormon," voiced the snowman Olaf in "Frozen" and co-starred with Kevin Hart in "The Wedding Ringer."
Angela Weiss/Getty Images for Variety
Olivia Munn, who has Chinese ancestry, spent a year on the show as its "Senior Asian Correspondent." She has since appeared in "Magic Mike" and "Deliver Us From Evil," and is dating Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Olivia Munn, who has Chinese ancestry, spent a year on the show as its "Senior Asian Correspondent." She has since appeared in "Magic Mike" and "Deliver Us From Evil," and is dating Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Rex Features via AP Images
Rob Riggle was a veteran of "Saturday Night Live" when he joined the show as its "Senior Foreign Correspondent," drawing laughs for his "reports" from the Iraq War. (He's also a military veteran, having served in the Marines for 23 years.) Riggle left the show in 2008 and has since had supporting roles in numerous movie comedies. He's also made regular appearances on TV's "Modern Family" and "Fox NFL Sunday."
Rob Riggle was a veteran of "Saturday Night Live" when he joined the show as its "Senior Foreign Correspondent," drawing laughs for his "reports" from the Iraq War. (He's also a military veteran, having served in the Marines for 23 years.) Riggle left the show in 2008 and has since had supporting roles in numerous movie comedies. He's also made regular appearances on TV's "Modern Family" and "Fox NFL Sunday."
Noah Weinzweig/Comedy Central/AP
From 1998 to 2003, Mo Rocca was a regular correspondent for "The Daily Show." Since departing, he's become a correspondent for "CBS This Morning" and frequently pops up on the radio show "Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!"
From 1998 to 2003, Mo Rocca was a regular correspondent for "The Daily Show." Since departing, he's become a correspondent for "CBS This Morning" and frequently pops up on the radio show "Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!"
Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Samantha Bee was the longest-serving "Daily Show" correspondent, having been with the show from 2003 to 2015. A show on TBS -- like CNN, a unit of Time Warner -- is in the works. Bee is married to fellow "Daily Show" veteran Jason Jones.
Samantha Bee was the longest-serving "Daily Show" correspondent, having been with the show from 2003 to 2015. A show on TBS -- like CNN, a unit of Time Warner -- is in the works. Bee is married to fellow "Daily Show" veteran Jason Jones.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Comedy Centra
Comedian Trevor Noah, who joined the show as a correspondent in December 2014, will succeed Jon Stewart as host of "The Daily Show" after Stewart steps down later this year.
Comedian Trevor Noah, who joined the show as a correspondent in December 2014, will succeed Jon Stewart as host of "The Daily Show" after Stewart steps down later this year.
Courtesy Comedy Central
'The Daily Show's' famous alumni

Story highlights

Wyatt Cenac was a "Daily Show" writer and correspondent

He recalled Jon Stewart blowing up at him after he complained about a racial segment on the show

The Hollywood Reporter  — 

Former Daily Show writer Wyatt Cenac got candid about his rocky relationship with host Jon Stewart on the most recent episode of “WTF With Marc Maron.”

Cenac, who served as a correspondent and was the only black writer during the period leading up to the 2012 election, admitted that he didn’t get along with the late-night host throughout his four-year tenure and recalled one particular confrontation in which Stewart blew up at him in front of the entire “Daily Show” staff.

While covering the 2012 presidential race, Stewart did an impression of Republican candidate Herman Cain that Cenac found offensive.

“I don’t think this [impression] is from a malicious place, but I think this is from a sort of naïve, kind of ignorant place,” he remembered thinking. “It’s like, ‘Oh no, you just did this and you weren’t thinking about it. It was just the voice that came into your head.’ And so it bugged me.”

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Since Stewart had received heat from Fox News for doing a racially insensitive voice impression on-air, the host had planned to poke fun at the issue in another segment centered around the theme of “everything I do is racist,” until Cenac stepped in and told Stewart the entire bit frankly made him uncomfortable.

“I’ve got to be honest, when I heard it, it bothered me.” Cenac, who had watched Stewart’s news segment on Cain from his hotel room, remembered telling the “Daily Show” staff in an email. “I was the one black writer there. It was this thing where it’s like, when you’re the one — whether you want to or not — you’re speaking for everybody. I felt like I had to speak for all the minorities, because there’s nobody speaking for them.”

Cenac recalled voicing his reservations again at a writers meeting, which then got Stewart riled up. “I raised a concern, like, ‘Are you sure you want to do this?’ … He got incredibly defensive. I remember he was like, ‘What are you trying to say? There’s a tone in your voice.’ I was like, ‘There’s no tone. It bothered me.’ … And then he got upset. He stood up and he was just like, ‘F— off. I’m done with you.’ And he just started screaming that to me, and he screamed it a few times. … ‘F— off! I’m done with you.’ And he stormed out. I didn’t know if I had been fired.”

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The former “Daily Show” writer admitted that he had an emotional breakdown following their argument. “I was shaking, and I just sat there by myself on the bleachers and f—ing cried. And it’s a sad thing,” he said. “That’s how I feel. That’s how I feel in this job: I feel alone.”

Cenac added, “I represent my community. I represent my people, and I try to represent them the best that I can. I gotta be honest if something seems questionable, because if not, then I don’t want to be in a position where I am being untrue not just to myself but to my culture, because that’s exploitative.”

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Listen to the full “WTF” podcast here.

Stewart’s final episode of the Daily Show will take place on Aug. 6.

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