Apple has decided to cancel the show “The Problem with Jon Stewart”. The third season of the show, which was set to premiere on Apple TV+ in November, was seen as a major coup for the streaming service. Apple’s decision to cancel the show has prompted a letter from a group of bipartisan lawmakers seeking clarity on the matter, according to a new report from Deadline.
Stewart is a well-known comedian and political commentator. The third season of his show was set to focus on a variety of issues, including China, US presidential elections in 2024 and artificial intelligence. The show was seen as a major coup for Apple TV+ when the first season first premiered on the streaming service back in September 30, 2021.
The report states that Apple executives were worried that the show’s criticism of China could damage the company’s relationship with the Chinese government. China is a major market for Apple products, and the company has been accused of self-censoring its content in order to appease the Chinese government.
This development coincides with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ongoing visit to the US, where he is scheduled to meet with President Biden to discuss a range of issues, including military conflicts, drug-trafficking and artificial intelligence.
The decision to cancel the show has been met with criticism from some United States lawmakers. In a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook, a group of bipartisan representatives from the United States Congress asked Cook to explain the decision. The lawmakers are concerned that Apple may be self-censoring its content in order to appease the Chinese government.
We are deeply concerned about reports that Apple has canceled the show ‘The Problem with Jon Stewart’ due to concerns about its criticism of China. If these reports are true, it would be a disturbing example of Apple self-censoring its content in order to appease the Chinese government.
letter addressed to Apple CEO Tim Cook
The lawmakers asked Cook to provide them with more information about the decision to cancel the show. They also asked Cook to commit to upholding Apple’s values of free speech and freedom of expression.
It is unclear whether Apple will respond to the lawmakers’ letter. However, the decision to cancel the show is likely to continue to generate controversy. While Apple hasn’t canceled the show themselves, it is widely understood that the company’s self-censorship requests led to Jon Stewart’s decision to step away from the project.
