Hasan Minhaj, who was in the running to become the permanent host of “The Daily Show,” reportedly lost the opportunity due to a scandal involving embellishing stories, according to recent reports.
Key Takeaway
Hasan Minhaj reportedly lost the opportunity to become the permanent host of “The Daily Show” due to allegations of embellishing stories, leading to the decision not to hire him.
What Happened?
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the deal to bring Hasan Minhaj on board as Trevor Noah’s replacement was almost finalized over the summer. However, the New Yorker published an exposé alleging that Minhaj had embellished stories in his stand-up special, which led to the deal being called off.
The Allegations
The New Yorker’s exposé claimed that Minhaj had exaggerated stories for shock value, including one about taking his daughter to the hospital due to an anthrax scare and another about being turned down by a girl because of his race, which the woman in question denied. Despite Minhaj’s defense and denial of some of the allegations, the scandal was reportedly seen as a liability by higher-ups, leading to the decision to not hire him.
Reactions and Aftermath
The fallout from the scandal was swift, with some comedians expressing frustration over Minhaj’s comments about embellishing stories in stand-up. Bill Maher even called Minhaj a liar on an episode of his show. As a result, the producers announced the return of Jon Stewart to host the show on Mondays through the election season, with other correspondents handling hosting duties from Tuesday to Thursday.
What’s Next?
While it may be a disappointment for Hasan Minhaj, the show’s producers have opted for a part-time solution with Jon Stewart’s return and the use of correspondents for hosting duties. It remains to be seen who will eventually take over the role, but for now, the search continues.
