Former companion of Donald Trump, Howard Stern, found himself under the spotlight as speculations arose around his dismissal from his radio show at SiriusXM. Trump was provoked to chip in a response on this matter following an article published in U.S. Sun, which hinted at Stern’s potential departure. An anonymous tip-off on Wednesday suggested that the network was preparing to severe their relationship with Stern as his contract nears its expiration. Despite these rumors, neither Stern nor SiriusXM made any explicit remarks.
Nonetheless, Stern addressed the circulating speculations to his listeners on SiriusXM on Wednesday. He cryptically announced his imminent return, hinting he was merely ‘refuelling’. Trump’s opinion was sought on this unexpected media spotlight on Stern. When asked about the ‘Hate Trump’ convention in the entertainment realm and if this hatred was losing its charm amongst the American citizens, Trump didn’t falter to give Stern a tongue lashing.
The former president made a sarcastic comment, expressing his surprise on hearing Stern’s name after a while and raising questions about his possible termination. The bond between the two personalities used to be endearing back in time. Stern had played host to Trump on his radio show on numerous instances, with candid conversations and lasting camaraderie.
Stern, reminiscing about the past, last year mentioned how raw and forthright Trump used to be during his time on the show. In praise of Trump’s honesty, Stern exclaimed how Trump was never afraid of diving into any topic, making him a captivating presence on the air. Stern, the host of SiriusXM, was also vocal about the circumstances that led to the fallout of their relationship, attributing it to his refusal to participate in a Republican National Convention at Trump’s behest, due to his inclination towards Clinton’s presidential campaign.
Stern declared the duo’s rapport as ‘strange’ during a conversation in 2019, acknowledging the intimate bonds they shared in the past, such as Trump being a guest at his wedding, and the numerous dinners at Mar-a-Lago. However, their relationship strained when Stern chose to utilize his platform to highlight Kamala Harris through an interview. This didn’t settle well with Trump, who was quick to criticize Stern for embracing the ‘woke’ culture, blaming it for the decline in Stern’s popularity.
Trump did not stop at Stern on Wednesday; he proceeded to throw jabs at his regular targets in the late-night TV fraternity, claiming they lacked talent. In the absence of evidence, Trump prophesized the downfall of diversified television figures such as Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, and Jimmy Kimmel. He added an unfair comparison between Colbert’s ratings and the latter two.
Elaborating on Stern’s recent stances, Trump skewered the radio host for pandering to the ‘woke’ crowd and lambasted him for the dip in his program’s rating point. According to Trump, Stern’s discourse, which was once an open book, had devolved into pandering and patting himself on the back for ‘going woke’.
Furthermore, Stern’s decision to invite Kamala Harris for an in-depth conversation on his platform was met with immediate disdain by Trump. Despite the lack of any concrete evidence, Trump unabashedly claimed that Stern’s ratings plummeted since his move to the ‘woke’ side of the scale.
The brewing controversy didn’t just stop at Stern. Trump hurled attacks at his regular ‘enemies’ from the late-night TV scene – Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, and Jimmy Kimmel. With his quintessential bluntness, Trump declared that the triad possessed not an iota of talent and predicted their exit from the scene.
Trump further added unneeded commentary, pitting Colbert against the two Jimmys, claiming that Colbert’s ratings were doing better than Fallon and Kimmel’s shows. Mind you, all these statements were made in the absence of any factual data to back them up.
Some speculate that this animosity could be associated with the fact that these TV hosts had not hidden their lack of enthusiasm for Trump’s presidency, often selecting him as their target of satirical commentary. However, whether or not this predicted downfall will become a reality remains to be seen.
Arguably, the landscape of late-night television itself has undergone radical changes, with several hosts and shows balancing on the knife’s edge of public opinion. Even amidst the shifts and the jokes, the stalwarts of late-night television – the likes of Colbert, Fallon, and Kimmel – continue with their unshakeable resolve.
While Trump lambasting these shows as ‘talentless’ might come across as his typical rhetoric, it exhibits a glaring neglect of the hard work and dedication put into ideating, creating, and executing these popular shows by professionals who are respected in the industry.
Perhaps these accusations are Trump’s way of publicly denouncing and punishing those he believes have wronged him. Whether it’s Stern ‘going woke’ or late-night shows openly satirizing his actions, all these actions seem to draw Trump’s ire, leading to his open decrying of their respective shows. However, given that these individuals continue to hold public sway, it appears that their audience disagrees with Trump.
One might argue, then, that Trump’s brusque critique, rather than damaging their reputations, acts as an uninvited endorsement of sorts, paradoxically fueling their popularity. His harsh critique might well serve as a testament to their relevance, as they continue to resonate with audiences, undisputed by Trump’s claims.
In retrospect, despite Trump’s controversial remarks and his penchant for stepping on toes, the subjects of his critique continue to loom large in their respective realms. Perhaps, the figures who find themselves rubbed the wrong way by Trump’s comments will take it as a sign that they’re doing something right, and continue their endeavors unaffected.
The post Trump Slams Howard Stern for Embracing ‘Woke’ Culture appeared first on Real News Now.
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