Latest news with #CancelCulture
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Stephen Colbert has ideas about why Paramount might be short on cash
Stephen Colbert returned to the stage of the Ed Sullivan Theater last night, speaking publicly for the first time since sharing the news that The Late Show would be history come May 2026. 'Cancel culture has gone too far,' Colbert joked at the top of his monologue. But overall, Colbert used the stage to continue to mock his parent company Paramount and Donald Trump. 'Over the weekend, it sunk in that they are killing off our show. But they made one mistake: they left me alive. And now for the next ten months the gloves are off.' Looking directly into the camera, Colbert told President Trump, 'go fuck yourself.' 'People have been speculating about the timing of this decision from Paramount,' Colbert said, referencing his criticism of the network last Monday. 'CBS, who I want to reiterate have always been great partners, put out a statement saying very nice things about me and about the show, and thank you to them for that' Colbert continued. 'They clarified that the cancellation was 'purely a financial decision'… but how could it be a financial decision when it was number one in ratings?' he said, going on to reference the supposed losses of $40 million. 'I could see us losing $24 million, but where would Paramount have possibly spent the other $16 million—oh, yeah.' Later, Colbert welcomed who else but 'Weird Al' Yankovic and Lin-Manuel Miranda to the stage to perform 'Viva La Vida' by Coldplay. Not a parody of 'Viva La Vida,' just the actual song as the camera shifted to the audience to parody last week's viral, marriage-ruining kiss cam. The bit brought in cameos from Anderson Cooper, Andy Cohen, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon, Jon Stewart, John Oliver, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, Christopher McDonald and Adam Sandler before depicting an animation of Trump and the Paramount logo. And once the spotlight shifts to them, the song is canceled, for financial reasons. Colbert's two main guests for the evening, Sandra Oh and Dave Franco, also both praised the host at the top of their interviews, something we'd wager we'll be seeing a lot more of between now and May. 'I am so sorry and saddened and properly outraged for the cancellation of late night here,' Oh began, voice somewhat shaking. 'Not only for yourself and for this entire family here, but for what it means [for] where we are in our culture, and what it means for free speech.' Oh then wishes a plague on both the houses of CBS and Paramount. Franco referenced the situation less directly, simply calling Colbert an 'absolute legend' and saying that everything he touches turns to gold. More from A.V. Club Eddington breaks COVID cinema out of quarantine E! News gets the axe again Infamously thin-skinned president takes South Park's bait Solve the daily Crossword
Entrepreneur
5 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Cancel Culture Isn't Going Anywhere — Here's How Smart Leaders Respond
Cancel culture can derail B2C and B2B thought leadership efforts, as public scrutiny gets amplified by social media. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Today's leaders are expected to speak up — not just for business, but for society. According to the 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer, 73% of people believe CEOs should step in when governments fail, and 68% feel empowered to pressure organizations into change. This isn't just about leadership — it's about leverage. Public expectations are high, and the cost of silence or missteps can be steep. Thought leadership now exists in a landscape of hypervisibility. Social media amplifies every comment, every slip. There are no warning shots — just consequences. So where does that leave leaders? Caught between the demand to lead and the fear of being "cancelled." This article explores how cancel culture is reshaping the rules of engagement—and how modern leaders can navigate it with clarity, credibility and confidence. Related: Cancel Culture Is Lazy. We Need Revision Culture Instead. Understanding cancel culture At its core, cancel culture is amplified public accountability. It's the collective decision to disengage from individuals or organizations seen as offensive or unethical. Social media often fuels the outrage, which can quickly damage reputations and opportunities. Some see it as justice. Others, as mob rule. A 2022 Pew Research Center study revealed a divide: 58% believe calling out others promotes accountability, while 38% see it as unfair punishment. It's a tense environment for leaders. Share an opinion and risk backlash. Stay silent and risk irrelevance. That hesitation is reshaping thought leadership—and not for the better. Leadership voices on thin ice Public sentiment shifts fast. What's acceptable today might spark outrage tomorrow. That unpredictability keeps leaders in the crosshairs. As a result, many opt for silence —but that's risky too. Diluted ideas turn thought leadership into thought followership: safe, bland and forgettable. The real risk isn't saying the wrong thing. It's saying nothing at all. Modern leadership requires clarity, conviction and the courage to speak from a foundation of values and insight—even as the ground shifts beneath you. Cancel culture and B2B: the hidden impact Cancel culture headlines usually spotlight consumer brands, but the effect in B2B is quieter and more insidious. Imagine this: Business A approaches Business B for a promising deal. Then, Business A backs out over a years-old tweet from Business B's founder. No press, no hashtags — just a lost opportunity behind closed doors. This is micro cancel culture. And for smaller companies without the PR or legal teams to manage reputation risks, it creates serious vulnerability. The result? Companies start choosing "safe" over smart. Innovation suffers. Integrity is replaced with risk aversion. Related: Here's the No. 1 Thing Brands Can Do to Avoid Public Outrage and Cancel Culture Cancel-proof thought leadership strategies In today's climate, it's not just what you say — it's how, when and why. Here's how to lead with courage and credibility: Embrace a micro-program strategy: Skip rigid campaigns that age fast. Break bold ideas into short, agile pieces that can evolve with current events. Test messaging early and often. Stay true to your values: Speak up only on issues that align with your mission. A 2023 Weber Shandwick study found one-third of consumers believe companies should only take stands when it's relevant to their business. Balance instinct with inclusion: Speed matters, but so does perspective. Build diverse voices into your decision-making process and vet your partnerships carefully. Use research as a shield and spotlight: Data makes bold ideas harder to dismiss. Root your opinions in real-world research and trend analysis to shift the conversation from emotion to evidence. Own your mistakes—fast: Perfection isn't required. Accountability is. PwC reports 38% of consumers will forgive a brand that apologizes and takes action. Act quickly, correct transparently and move forward. Final thoughts Cancel culture isn't going anywhere. Public expectations around business responsibility are only rising. The real challenge for leaders isn't avoiding controversy — it's staying relevant and trustworthy in a shifting world. Let values guide your message. Let data back it up. Let courage drive it forward. Cancel culture can feel like a threat — but it can also serve as a filter that pushes leadership toward greater clarity, integrity and long-term credibility. The goal isn't to dodge scrutiny. It's to build a brand that can withstand it. Ready to break through your revenue ceiling? Join us at Level Up, a conference for ambitious business leaders to unlock new growth opportunities.
Fox News
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
'BROKE THE NUMBER ONE RULE OF COMEDY': Jimmy Failla Explains the Downfall of Stephen Colbert and 'The Late Show'
Jimmy Failla, host of Fox Across America on Fox News Radio and Fox News Saturday Night with Jimmy Failla, and author of Cancel Culture Dictionary: An A to Z Guide to Winning the War on Fun, joined The Guy Benson Show today to discuss the liberal meltdown over the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and the bizarre display from celebrities and late-night hosts who rolled in to last night's taping. Failla explained why the move doesn't faze him, or Gutfeld!, for that matter, and why true comedians aren't threatened by the collapse of the late-night echo chamber. Listen to the full interview below! Listen to the full interview below: Listen to the full podcast below:
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How Colbert's ‘Late Show' rivals have rallied around him following CBS cancellation
Late-night hosts appeared in the audience in a show of solidarity, and Jon Stewart led a gospel choir in an expletive-laden song aimed at owner Paramount. Stephen Colbert returned to The Late Show on Monday night for the first time since last week's stunning announcement that CBS would be ending the late-night franchise next year. 'Folks, I'm going to go ahead and say it. Cancel culture has gone too far,' Colbert said at the start of his monologue. Colbert thanked everyone who had reached out to him over the weekend, including fellow late-night hosts, many of whom appeared in the audience at the Ed Sullivan Theater in a show of solidarity. Among them: Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, John Oliver and Andy Cohen, along with Anderson Cooper, Adam Sandler and Christopher McDonald. They took part in a parody mocking the viral video of the apparently married CEO who was caught on the Jumbotron with the head of human resources at a Coldplay concert. Lin-Manuel Miranda and 'Weird Al' Yankovic performed Coldplay's 'Viva La Vida' as the camera panned to late-night 'couples' Stewart and Oliver, Fallon and Meyers, Cohen and Cooper, as well as Adam Sandler and Christopher McDonald, in the crowd. The camera then caught a cartoon version of President Trump and the logo of CBS parent company Paramount canoodling in the audience. Colbert stopped the song. "I'm sorry, I just got this note from corporate," Colbert told Miranda and Yankovic. "Your song has been canceled." 'A big fat bribe' The company's decision to end The Late Show came days after Colbert openly criticized Paramount for agreeing to pay a $16 million settlement over Trump's claims that 60 Minutes unfairly edited an interview with his opponent Kamala Harris during the 2024 campaign. Paramount is currently seeking approval from the Federal Communications Commission for an $8 billion merger with Skydance Media. On The Late Show early last week, Colbert called the settlement a 'big fat bribe.' In a statement on Thursday, CBS said that canceling the show was 'purely a financial decision' and 'is not related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.' How Colbert's late-night rivals reacted on TV Two of Colbert's late-night rivals also reacted to the news of his cancellation on their own shows. 'Everyone is talking about CBS's decision to end The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, and many people are now threatening to boycott the network,' Fallon said on NBC's The Tonight Show Monday. 'CBS could lose millions of viewers, plus tens of hundreds watching on Paramount Plus.' On The Daily Show Monday, Stewart recalled his long history working with Colbert on Comedy Central, which is also owned by Paramount. He then tore into the company for its decision to pull the plug on The Late Show. 'Now, I acknowledge, losing money, late-night TV is a struggling financial model,' Stewart said. 'We are all basically operating a Blockbuster kiosk inside of a Tower Records. But when your industry is faced with changes, you don't just call it a day. My God! When CDs stopped selling, they didn't just go, 'Oh, well, music, it's been a good run.' 'If you're trying to figure out why Stephen's show is ending, I don't think the answer can be found in some smoking gun email or phone call from Trump to CBS executives or in CBS QuickBooks spreadsheets on the financial health of late-night,' he added. 'I think the answer is in the fear and pre-compliance that is gripping all of America's institutions at this very moment, institutions that have chosen not to fight the vengeful and vindictive actions of our pubic hair-doodling commander in chief.' Stewart capped the segment by leading a gospel choir in a song aimed at Paramount. Its refrain: 'Go f*** yourself!' ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live has been in re-runs while the host is on vacation. But last week, Kimmel lashed out at CBS on social media upon learning of Colbert's cancellation. 'Love you, Stephen,' Kimmel wrote on Instagram. 'F*** you and all your Sheldons, CBS.' Colbert's expletive-laden reaction to Trump On Friday, Trump celebrated the news in a Truth Social post. 'I absolutely love that Colbert' got fired,' the president wrote. 'His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. He has even less talent than Colbert!' Colbert responded to Trump on Monday's show. "How dare you, sir,' Colbert said during his monologue. 'Would an untalented man be able to compose the following satirical witticism? Go f*** yourself." Even Colbert's guest on Monday's show, Sandra Oh, got into the act. 'I am so sorry and properly outraged for the cancellation, not only for you, but for our entire culture and what it means for free speech,' Oh told Colbert. She then took Colbert's hand while delivering a message to CBS and Paramount: 'A plague on both of your houses.' Solve the daily Crossword
Washington Post
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Stephen Colbert mocks CBS's reasoning for canceling ‘The Late Show'
On Monday night, CBS 'Late Show' host Stephen Colbert returned to TV for the first time since the stunning news last week that the network has decided to pull the plug on the historic franchise. The final episode will air in May 2026. 'Folks, I'm going to go ahead and say it,' he said, kicking off his monologue. 'Cancel culture has gone too far.'
