Marc Maron has revisited his ongoing conflict with Jon Stewart, claiming it is “entirely driven” by his own “insecurities.”
“Jon never did anything wrong to me,” Maron revealed in an interview with Esquire. “I was simply envious.”
Maron has opened up about his rivalry with the former “Daily Show” anchor, with roots tracing back to their early careers in the 1990s comedy scene. After Maron hosted Comedy Central’s “Short Attention Span Theater,” which ended in 1994, Stewart transitioned to hosting “The Daily Show,” solidifying his status as a comedic icon.
Maron felt envious of Stewart, perceiving him as a “smart, attractive, Jewish guy” who had a clear understanding of how to effectively utilize and maximize his abilities. “I lacked control over my own talent. I didn’t recognize my strengths or weaknesses,” Maron admitted.
Maron continued, “In the early days of my career, Jon, who is about my age, was everywhere. My jealousy towards him was so intense… I would insult him, and right in front of him. It was overwhelming. I couldn’t make it through a week without seeing him on a magazine cover. Somewhere in my mind, I thought, ‘If only I could get it together, I could be like that guy.’ That wasn’t accurate, as I was struggling with my own issues and aiming for something entirely different.”
When asked by Esquire if he tried to invite Stewart onto his podcast, “WTF,” which recently concluded after nearly 1,700 episodes, Maron mentioned that he reached out “early in the game.” He recounted conveying this to Stewart over the phone, “kind of offering an apology.” Maron revealed Stewart’s retort: “There’s no love here.”
“He mentioned, ‘I might consider having coffee with you, but I’m not going to do your podcast,’” Maron shared. “Then he added, ‘I’m sure what you’re doing is creatively interesting, and best of luck with it.’ That level of condescension was hard to swallow. And now he’s also podcasting. Full circle!”
