Jon Stewart recalls outrage after he supported COVID-19 lab leak theory: ‘Fuck you, I’m done’

“My big problem was that I thought it expressed pretty well how I feel and the two things that come out of it: I’m racist towards Asians, and how dare I join the alt-right.”

Stewart recalled that the backlash he faced was “quick, immediate and quite loud” after his appearance, though he added that he “didn’t take it personally”.

“What I don’t like about it is the absolutism and dismissive attitude like “fuck off, I’m done with you.” I will never forgive you, you have crossed an unforgivable line. You expressed an opinion that is the opposite of mine or not mine, ”continued Stewart.

“What struck me, I think, was the anger,” he added.

Left-wing critics attacked Stewart for his remarks about the Late Show last year. At the time, the COVID-19 lab leak theory was widely criticized as a conspiracy theory by most mainstream media.

Colbert seemed to be shocked by Stewart’s stance.

“Science has done a lot to help alleviate the suffering of this pandemic, which was most likely caused by science,” Stewart said.

“You mean maybe there’s a chance this was created in a lab? If there is evidence, I would love to hear it, I just don’t know,” Colbert said.

“Chance? My God!” Stewart replied with obvious disbelief. “The new respiratory coronavirus has overtaken Wuhan, China, what should we do? Oh, you know who we could ask? Wuhan Novel Respiratory Coronavirus Laboratory.

“My God, near Hershey, Pennsylvania, there was an outbreak of chocolate goodness. What do you think happened?” Stewart added. “Like, ‘Oh, I don’t know, maybe the steam shovel is paired with cocoa beans?’ Or it’s a damn chocolate factory.

The Department of Energy said it had “low confidence” in its findings about the origin of the COVID-19 virus, people familiar with the report told the Wall Street Journal.

A year earlier, the FBI had concluded with “moderate certainty” that a laboratory accident had caused the outbreak.