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Jon Stewart couldn’t muster any comedy on Thursday night. Source: YouTube
AN EMOTIONAL and dejected Jon Stewart sat in front of the camera in the latest episode of his satirical news show and told fans he simply had no jokes left.
The 52-year-old host of The Daily Show was overcome with despair in the wake of a church shooting in South Carolina that left nine people dead.
“I honestly have nothing other than just sadness that, once again, we have peer into the abyss of the depraved violence that we have to do to each other,†he said.
“And the nexus of a gaping racial wound that will not heal yet we pretend doesn’t exist.â€
The comedian has hosted the show for 17 years and is due to retire in just six weeks time. Normally he would deconstruct the news and poke fun at the media’s portrayal of the day’s events, but this time he apologised to fans for not having any humour to offer.
“I’ve got nothing for you in terms of jokes and sounds because of what happened in South Carolina. Maybe if I wasn’t nearing the end of my run or this wasn’t such a common occurrence, maybe I could have pulled out of the spiral, but I didn’t,†he said.
Instead of doing his usual routine he delved into a heartfelt monologue about gun violence and the country’s racist history which continues to manifest itself in modern day America in horrifically violent ways.
Dylann Storm Roof, 21, opened fire and killed nine people at a bible study group at an African American Methodist church on Thursday in what police labelled a hate crime.
“I hate to use this pun, but this one is black and white. There is no nuance here,†he said to cheers from a live studio audience, who otherwise remained respectfully silent throughout.
“This is a terrorist attack. This is a violent attack on the Emanuel Church in South Carolina which is a symbol for the black community,†Stewart said.
“In South Carolina, the roads that black people drive on are named after confederate generals who fought to keep black people from being able to drive freely on that road. That’s insanity.â€
With all the hyperbole and fear-mongering perpetrated by the US media relating to the threat of terrorist groups, Stewart said groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIS were not as dangerous as some of they’re own countrymen.
“al-Qaeda, all those guys, ISIS — they’re not s*** compared to the damage that we can apparently do to ourselves on a regular basis,†he said.
South African comedian Trevor Noah is due to replace Stewart on August 6.
The iconic host’s last show will no doubt be a merrier affair than his effort on Thursday night, but it was an episode that will be remembered for a long time to come.