Overview
- Clips from Stewart’s December 11 podcast circulated in recent days, triggering criticism from COVID‑cautious people, disabled advocates, and Long COVID survivors.
- On the show, Stewart joked about coworkers who wear masks, saying, “There’s always two,” and mimicked their reluctance to explain their choice.
- Social media testimonies described harm linked to others not masking, including a parent of a medically fragile child, as well as reported harassment of mask users.
- Coverage cited research indicating Long COVID risk is higher for workers with close on‑the‑job contact and noted 2023 U.S. Census data showing higher reported rates among Black and Latino adults.
- Some critics called Stewart hypocritical given his advocacy for 9/11 responders with long‑term illnesses, and no public apology or substantive response was reported as of December 30.