Stewart seems to be arguing that he is an equal-opportunity offender, willing to poke fun at anyone, or any voice, including those of his own tribe. But for Cenac, who nominated himself as the racial referee of “The Daily Show,” that excuse just didn’t cut it.

As it turns out this isn’t the first time that Stewart has cursed out a person of color over his disapproval of racially discomfiting humor. Writing for Salon, Alison Kinney describes a 2008 taping of “The Daily Show” she attended where the warm-up comic—you guessed it, a white guy—told jokes involving race. When Stewart came out and chatted with the crowd, Kinney says:

“So I raised my hand and asked, ‘Why does your warm-up comedian use ethnic humor?…’ Stewart’s face creased with annoyance. He said, shortly, loudly, glaring at me, ‘BECAUSE. IT’S. FUCKING. FUNNY.’ The [mostly white] audience erupted into wild applause.”