Harsh reality behind Colbert's 'cancellation' as DNC spokesperson
On Thursday, CBS announced that the comedian's decade-long run as the host of CBS' late night flagship will end next May. The sudden move s parked immediate backlash from left-wing celebrities and politicians, who claim the decision was strictly politically-motivated.
The cancellation was revealed two days after Colbert used the term 'big fat bribe' to describe Paramount's $16million settlement with President Trump. Paramount, which owns CBS, decided to settle on the lawsuit over deceptive editing of a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris. The entire affair came amid a pending merger between CBS parent company Paramount and Skydance - a deal still awaiting regulatory approval under the oversight of the Trump administration. CBS - long known as the 'Tiffany Network' - insisted that canceling Colbert's show was 'purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night.' 'It is not related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount,' it added.
Though the program regularly topped its timeslot on network TV, it reportedly hemorrhaged $40 million a year in revenue - a staggering loss that ultimately proved unsustainable. However, the network instantly faced widespread accusations, including from US senators, of cancelling Colbert for political reasons, particularly given the timing following his vocal criticism of Trump. 'Stephen Colbert, an extraordinary talent and the most popular late night host, slams the deal, days later, he's fired. Do I think this is a coincidence? NO,' Bernie Sanders wrote to X. Actress Jamie Lee Curtis added her voice to the backlash, telling the Associated Press : 'They just cut NPR and, you know, public broadcasting. Yes, they're trying to silence people, but that won't work. It won't work. We will just get louder.'
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote to X : 'CBS canceled Colbert's show just THREE DAYS after Colbert called out CBS parent company Paramount for its $16M settlement with Trump – a deal that looks like bribery. America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons,' she added. 'If Paramount and CBS ended the Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know. And deserves better,' California Senator Adam Schiff (pictured) wrote to X. Jon Stewart, Colbert's former Comedy Central colleague, also weighed in on the controversy during Monday's episode of The Daily Show, questioning the network's decision to cancel the program. 'Watching Stephen exceed all expectations in the role and become the number one late-night show on network television has been an undeniable great pleasure for me as a viewer and as his friend, and now Stephen has been canceled for "purely financial reasons," Stewart said. Colbert ultimately gained a reputation as one of Trump's fiercest critics, departing from the traditional late-night in favor of a more overtly partisan approach.
Following the announcement of The Late Show's cancellation, President Trump took to Truth Social on Friday to gloat over the news in a celebratory post. 'I absolutely love that Colbert' got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings,' he wrote. Colbert, who briefly addressed the move Friday, devoted much of his Monday show to the controversy, eventually uniting with almost every other liberal late-night talk show host in a show of support, as well as Adam Sandler and even Lin-Manuel Miranda. The 61-year-old comic opened after a standing ovation and a lengthy applause from the New York City crowd by saying 'cancel culture has gone too far' and then joked now that the show is ending, he can say whatever he feels.
Colbert said sarcastically of Paramount: 'They made one mistake, they left me alive! For the next ten months, the gloves are off!' The Late Show host then referenced Trump's comments, turning to an 'Eloquence Cam' and said: 'How dare you, sir? Would an untalented man be able to compose the following satirical witticism? Go [expletive] yourself.' He then referenced Trump stating in the same Truth Social post: 'I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next.' Colbert replied: 'Nope, no, no. Absolutely not. Kimmel, I am the martyr. There's only room for one on this cross. And the view is fantastic from up here. I can see your house!'
He also said that cancellation meant he could finally admit what he felt about the president. In contrast to his often over-the-top anti-Trump monologues, he dryly, quietly said: 'I don't care for him. Doesn't seem to have the skill set to be president. Just not a good fit, that's all.' Colbert also referenced a story from The New York Post saying the show lost $40-$50million last year, though some have suggested its as high as $100million. 'I could see us losing $24 million but where would Paramount have possibly spent the other $16 million, oh...' he quipped, naming the amount the company settled with Trump for over his 60 Minutes lawsuit.
He then went back to bashing Trump and the recent news accusing him of writing a 'bawdy' letter to Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday. 'I'll have more to say about all this after the commercial break. The only other story is a small one... the president is buddies with a [expletive],' he said. In a follow-up post on X, Carr chimed in again, taking aim at the comedian and slamming him for his reaction to the cancellation. 'I'm surprised to learn that CBS didn't find this stuff profitable,' he wrote.
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