Latest news with #BarbaraGaines
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
David Letterman Slams ‘Gutless' CBS for Cancelling Colbert's Late Show: ‘This Is Pure Cowardice'
Stephen Colbert's Late Show predecessor has weighed in on CBS' decision to cancel the late night program — and no, he's not happy about it. Original Late Show host David Letterman, who helmed the CBS show from 1993 to 2015 before Colbert took over, pulled no punches while sounding off on last week's news that CBS is cancelling The Late Show, with Colbert slated to sign off next May. More from TVLine Vampire Rom-Com From Ghosts Bosses Lands CBS Pilot Order Big Brother: Unlocked: Which Two Former Houseguests Are Hosting Season 27's Companion Series? Why Sheriff Country Is Filming 2,100 Miles Away From Fire Country - Plus, Episode Count Confirmed 'This is pure cowardice,' Letterman told his former executive producer Barbara Gaines in a YouTube video posted on Friday. He also doesn't believe that the decision was 'purely financial,' as CBS emphasized in a statement, and that The Late Show was losing money: 'They've given [Colbert] another 10 months, that's another huge chunk of money they're gonna lose, according to them.' Letterman then asked: 'If they were losing that kind of money — you're telling me losing this kind of money happened yesterday? I bet they were losing this money a month ago or six weeks ago. Or they were never losing that kind of money. They did not handle Stephen Colbert, the face of that network, in the way he deserves.' He also criticized CBS for agreeing to pay President Donald Trump $16 million to settle a lawsuit connected to its venerable news program 60 Minutes: 'You're telling me 60 Minutes, the pinnacle of journalistic excellence and integrity for decades… they decided, 'Aw, we're sorry, let us give you $20 million.' I believe this is in the wake of that.' Letterman did see a bright side in this for Colbert: 'For Stephen, I love this, because he gets to be a martyr.' But he predicted a rough road ahead for the CBS suits who made the call to axe The Late Show: 'I think one day, if not today, the people at CBS who have manipulated and handled this are going to be embarrassed. This is gutless.' Watch the full interview below: Best of TVLine 'Missing' Shows, Found! Get the Latest on Ahsoka, Monarch, P-Valley, Sugar, Anansi Boys and 25+ Others Yellowjackets Mysteries: An Up-to-Date List of the Series' Biggest Questions (and Answers?) The Emmys' Most Memorable Moments: Laughter, Tears, Historical Wins, 'The Big One' and More
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Florida lawmaker allegedly posted vile Barack Obama slur and shared method she'd use to kill gays
A Florida councilwoman has been suspended over allegations she shared a slew of hateful social media posts, including racist remarks against Barack Obama and a method to kill gay people. Judith Fike, a Groveland council member since October 2024, has been temporarily removed as the city investigates vile social media remarks she allegedly posted. The Republican claims the posts were 'doctored' and missing vital context. In an effort to stop what she believes is a smear campaign meant to tank her chances of re-election, she is suing the city for 'unlawfully' suspending her. On Monday night, the Groveland City Council voted for her suspension after an anonymous person sent Vice Mayor Barbara Gaines screenshots of 'racially-charged' and 'anti-gay' posts allegedly shared by Fike. 'On June 30, I received a package in the mail that contained some of the most vile and disgusting social media comments,' Gaines began. 'Councilwoman Fike has admitted to making racial and LGBTQ comments, and so, I want to address those tonight.' Gaines then proceeded to read from the alleged posts which included slurs and derogatory sentiments. Some of the posts were from about a decade ago, while the most recent example of Fike 'radiating hate' was from last year, Gaines claimed. 'From using the n-word to bashing the LQBTQ+ community and trivializing tragedies like Pulse [nightclub shooting],' Gaines said, in reference to the 2016 mass shooting at a gay club in Orlando which killed 49 people. 'It would have been easier to take the people from the Pulse nightclub, it would have been easier to push them off the roof,' Gaines read aloud, allegedly quoting Fike. 'Who does that?' Gaines asked. Fike tried justifying the post later in the meeting, telling Gaines that she was making reference to a contemporaneous atrocity in the Middle East, where ISIS was murdering gay people by throwing them off rooves. It is not clear exactly why Fike was linking the two incidents, but she claimed it was meant to be supportive of the LGTBQ+ community. 'My comment was, of course this gentleman did what he did. It was easier than having to march them up steps,' she said, referencing Pulse shooter Omar Mateen. 'And it was meant as a support of the community, not against the community.' She ended her explanation by conceding her post, 'may have been written in poor taste'. Gaines also stood up to show community members screenshots of a post allegedly depicting Ronald Reagan 'babysitting' Obama. 'Except, [Obama] is a monkey,' Gaines told the small audience referencing the image allegedly shared by Fike. But Fike claims the posts were altered to be purposely unflattering or taken out of context. While addressing City Attorney Anita Geraci-Carver, Fike responded to the accusations made against her. 'Anita, when I met you in your office and you handed me those, I explained to you how they had been copy and pasted and had words inserted,' she said. 'Now that Barbara has shown them, those are indeed manipulated. And so, I will just let that rest. They're not my words. 'There are some copies, but what Barbara just showed were absolutely not products of mine' Fike had allegedly previously told The Clermont Sun she took responsibility for her posts and apologized to 'anyone who was hurt by them,' according to Central Florida Public Media. However, it is unclear what messages she was referring to in that article. Fike said in the meeting her apology did not pertain to any messages read by Gaines. She ultimately agreed to the city's investigation because she said she would 'like to clear my name'. 'The woke City of Groveland has violated Florida's Constitution and Open Meetings Law by unlawfully removing Councilmember Fike from a Council Meeting,' Fike's attorney, Anthony Sabatini, wrote to the Daily Mail on Wednesday. 'Their purported 'suspension' has no legal basis or precedent whatsoever and will be reversed in court. 'This was a cheap attempt to damage her in the upcoming election, and the City should be embarrassed of its lawless actions.' He also reiterated that Fike has filed a lawsuit and said they will have an injunction against the city within the next five days. When the Daily Mail asked Sabatini why Fike believes she is being targeted, he simply stated: 'Because she is Republican.'
