If you were on Twitter when Jon Stewart announced he’s leaving The Daily Show Tuesday, you probably noticed the way everyone reacted.
Stewart’s killer takedowns of the media and politicians over the past sixteen years have made him a beloved television icon, so the news that he’d be stepping down sometime this year was a shocker to everyone.
Even Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling had to voice her sadness:
Jon Stewart is leaving @theDailyShow, one of my favourite TV programmes ever. That's major news to get over your morning tea. #BritishGrief
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) February 11, 2015
Hypable’s readers were equally disappointed:
I has a sad
Jon Stewart leaving ‘The Daily Show’ http://t.co/YcxYi2yT1S via @hypable
— 「Super Nick™」 (@Super_Nick_) February 11, 2015
NOOOOOOOOO!!!! RT @Hypable: Jon Stewart leaving ‘The Daily Show’ http://t.co/id9AvKY7LS pic.twitter.com/8pahiwNBFe
— Angie (@riotnrrrd18) February 11, 2015
Nope. RT @Hypable: Jon Stewart leaving ‘The Daily Show’ http://t.co/emPjzPWYQA pic.twitter.com/oBB1FQeq7h
— Amy Olsen (@AmyO122) February 11, 2015
With these types of reactions in mind, Stewart opened Wednesday’s Daily Show by addressing the outcry in his signature straightforward fashion. “Did I die?” he asked his audience. Watch:
Stewart and Comedy Central said on Tuesday that they haven’t set a date for the anchor’s departure. On his show, Stewart said that it could be anytime between July, September, or December – they simply haven’t made up their minds yet.
Watch his big announcement from Tuesday night’s show below. It’s heart-wrenching, honest, and fun:
