Jon Stewart Defends Trevor Noah: He Will ‘Earn Your Trust and Respect’ [VIDEO]

Jon Stewart is speaking out about the controversy surrounding his Daily Show successor, Trevor Noah.

"I know there was a large kerfuffle on Twee… Tweeter," Stewart joked as the audience roared, "But I can say this without hesitation: Trevor Noah will earn your trust and respect — or not. Just as I earned your trust and respect — or did not. Or sometimes earned it, and then lost it, and then kind of got it back, and then it was like, 'F--- that guy.'"

Jon Stewart then got serious as the audience applauded in agreement.

"I do hope you give him an opportunity to earn that trust and respect because my experience with him is that he is an incredibly thoughtful, considerate, funny and smart individual," he said. "Man, I think you give him that time and it's gonna be well worth it. I'm excited for where he is gonna take this thing."

"After 17 f---ing years," the host joked, "I'm gonna record the Daily Show when he takes over."

Comedian and Daily Show correspondent Trevor Noah was announced as the new host of the program just a little over a month after Jon Stewart revealed that he will retire after this season.

Almost immediately, fans scoured the comedian's Twitter and dug up controversial jokes that many took to be offensive, anti-Semitic and sexist. The tweets, some of which go as far back as 2009, even prompted some to request that Comedy Central pick a new host.

However, with Jon Stewart's blessing, it seems as if people — or at least his studio audience — are willing to give the comedian the chance that Stewart feels he deserves. Will you tune in to watch Trevor Noah?