Comedian Jon Stewart has accused Apple of requesting that he refrain from interviewing Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan on his Apple TV+ show, "The Problem With Jon Stewart." According to Stewart, Apple explicitly asked him not to engage in a conversation with Khan during a podcast episode.

Stewart, who rejoined "The Daily Show" on a part-time basis in February after his departure from Apple in October, revealed the request during an episode of his show. Expressing his disappointment, the comedian addressed Khan directly, stating that Apple had specifically asked for her to be excluded from any discussions.

Curious about the reasoning behind Apple's restrictive stance, Stewart asked Khan why the tech giant might be apprehensive about certain conversations taking place in the public eye. Khan responded by highlighting the potential dangers of consolidating significant power and decision-making within a small number of companies.

These revelations come shortly after the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple, alleging that the company's iPhone ecosystem operates as a monopoly and that its anticompetitive practices extend to various areas, including advertising, the Apple Watch, browser, FaceTime, and news businesses. The FTC, under Khan's purview, has instigated similar actions against major tech corporations like Google parent Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta.

Stewart's clash with Apple's executives reportedly stemmed from disagreements over guest choices and show topics. The comedian's approach, which included discussions surrounding artificial intelligence and China, allegedly conflicted with Apple's vision for the program. However, Apple has not yet responded to CNBC's request for a comment on the matter.

While Jon Stewart's tenure on "The Daily Show" has resumed, his collaboration with Apple seems to have ended acrimoniously. The comedian's claims regarding Apple's alleged intervention in his interview choices raise questions about the extent of control wielded by tech giants and the potential implications for free expression and public discourse.

As the legal battles surrounding Apple's monopolistic practices continue, this recent controversy shines a spotlight on the power dynamics within the tech industry and the pressing need to address concerns of concentration and influence.