AceShowbiz - The internet can make or break celebrities in moments, and no one knows this better than Hasan Minhaj. The comedian who recently starred in Blake Lively's movie "It Ends With Us" opened up about a profound professional setback. Just as he was on the cusp of becoming the new host of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," Minhaj faced a backlash that cost him the coveted position.

In an Esquire cover story, Minhaj confirmed he was virtually set to succeed Trevor Noah. "We were in talks, and I had the gig, and we were pretty much good to go," he said. The turning point came after The New Yorker published a profile that meticulously fact-checked his stand-up anecdotes, revealing that he had embellished several stories.

The revelations included a tale about a white FBI informant in his family's mosque and another about his daughter being rushed to the hospital. The backlash was swift and strong, leading Comedy Central to reconsider their decision. "It went away. That's part of showbiz," Minhaj noted.

The speed with which the controversy unfolded was particularly jarring for Minhaj. "It was the first time I saw the speed and velocity of the internet, how quickly a story can take off. That part of it was very new to me and disorienting," he admitted.

Minhaj turned to friends and mentors during the turmoil. Comedians like Ramy Youssef, Mike Birbiglia, John Mulaney, and former "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart reached out to offer support. "I remember Jon [Stewart] called, and he said, 'Why the f*** are they doing this? And who does this benefit?' " Minhaj recalled.

While the professional setback was significant, the personal toll was even heavier. "The most painful thing is my wife and my parents," Minhaj shared. "To see them hurt, to see them engage with 'So I'm reading on the internet…' - that is so painful. I feel really, really sad that I let my parents down. Watching them experience a painful moment, an embarrassing moment in your career, I wish I didn't put them through that. That's the tough part."

Minhaj defended his artistic choices, grounding them in what he calls "emotional truth." He explained, "My comedy Arnold Palmer is 70 percent emotional truth - this happened - and then 30 percent hyperbole, exaggeration, fiction."

He argued that the essence of stand-up comedy involves some level of hyperbole for entertainment. "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," Minhaj stated.

This episode illustrates the precarious nature of showbiz, where an individual's rise and fall can be startlingly swift. Despite the setback, Minhaj remains hopeful and appears to be channeling his experiences into new opportunities, continually refining his unique blend of comedy and storytelling.