The show's former correspondent was close to being chosen as the permanent host of the Comedy Central series to replace Trevor Noah, but was dumped due to fabricating story allegations.
- Jan 26, 2024
AceShowbiz - Hasan Minhaj was close to being the new host for "The Daily Show" if only his scandal didn't reemerge. After it's announced that Jon Stewart will make a surprising return to the talk show, a new report suggested that Hasan lost out on the hosting gig due to a controversy.
Citing multiple sources, The Hollywood Reporter stated that Hasan's deal to take over as Trevor Noah's replacement was all but done by late summer. Around the same time, The New Yorker published a damning article claiming that the show's former correspondent fabricated autobiographical details of his comedy.
Hasan claimed in his 2022 standup special "The King's Jester" that he once opened a letter filled with white powder that fell on his daughter. Feering that it was anthrax, he and his wife Beena Patel took their daughter to the hospital before they learned hours later that it was not anthrax. The New Yorker report, however, noted that the anecdote was among others which had been exaggerated.
In response to the accusations, it was said that "The Daily Show" considered Hasan a "liability," prompting the production team to start looking for a new permanent host again. Hasan, meanwhile, called the report "needlessly misleading." He argued, "I use the tools of stand-up comedy - hyperbole, changing names and locations, and compressing timelines - to tell entertaining stories. That's inherent to the art form. You wouldn't go to a haunted house and say, 'Why are these people lying to me?' The point is the ride. Stand-up is the same."
Meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter report arrived after Jon surprised fans when he announced his return to the Comedy Central news program as a temporary host. The 61-year-old wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday, January 24, "Friends. After much reflection I have decided to enter the transfer portal for my last year of eligibility. Excited for the future! 5'7" ish 165 14.8 second 40 #Blessed #NILBABY #TDSnation #LFGM."
Jon, who served as the satirical news show's host from 1999 until 2015, will only act as host on Monday evenings through the 2024 election. Tuesdays through Thursdays, meanwhile, will be hosted by other "The Daily Show" correspondents.
