Jon Stewart launched a blistering attack on the UFC Freedom 250 fights staged on the White House lawn Sunday, only to abruptly soften his tone once he realized his own corporate bosses were behind the broadcast.
According to Mediaite, the Comedy Central host opened Monday nights monologue by excoriating the event, which was organized by President Donald Trump and held on his 80th birthday, casting it as a spectacle that demeaned both the sport and the country. What a God-awful mockery of an event that somehow managed to find a way to devalue both combat sports and our national dignity! Stewart declared, before sneering, Who even aired this embarrassing sh*t?!
Stewart then rolled a news clip revealing the event aired on Paramount Plus, placing the production under the same corporate umbrella as his own program and exposing the kind of corporate entanglements that often mute liberal outrage when their own side profits. Confronted with that reality, he instantly shifted into obsequious satire: And what a fine event it was, he said, adding, Once again, the leaders of Paramount Plus, providing us all with incredible content. Reasonable prices. I am proud to stand with the Paramount family and whatever shows they decide to either cancel or put on.
The host next highlighted a viral moment from the card, playing footage of UFC fighter Josh Hokits blunt shot at the former First Lady, in which he said, Michelle Obama is a man. Stewart erupted, responding, What a f*cking a**hole! You know what? Just f*cking asshole.
Yet even that outrage gave way to another corporate-friendly gag, as Stewart again undercut his own indignation with a wink toward the networks schedule. I look forward to his performance on next weeks , he said softly, alluding to the time-buy program now occupying the slot once held by Stephen Colbert before his cancellation, a reminder that in todays media ecosystem, even moral posturing tends to bend to the demands of the bottom line.
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