Stephen Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ Canceled, Sparking Outcry Over Alleged Political Motives

CBS has announced the cancellation of ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,’ with the series set to conclude in May 2026 and the ‘Late Show’ brand to be retired. This decision, confirmed by CBS shortly after Colbert’s on-air announcement, has ignited a firestorm of speculation and criticism, particularly regarding potential political influence.

While CBS maintains the cancellation is a ‘purely financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night,’ and unrelated to the show’s content or performance, many public figures and commentators are questioning the timing. The announcement comes roughly two weeks after Paramount, CBS’s parent company, settled a $16 million lawsuit with former President Donald Trump, which had stemmed from an interview on ’60 Minutes.’

Comedian Jimmy Kimmel publicly lambasted CBS, writing on Instagram, ‘Love you Stephen. F*** you and all your Sheldons CBS.’ Senator Elizabeth Warren stated, ‘America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons,’ directly linking it to Colbert’s recent criticism of the Paramount-Trump settlement. Representative Adam Schiff echoed this, tweeting, ‘If Paramount and CBS ended the Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know. And deserves better.’

Other prominent voices, including Andy Richter, former New York Times media reporter Bill Carter, and TV producer Mike Schur, have expressed strong doubts about CBS’s financial justification, suggesting the move is a capitulation to political pressure. Ben Stiller and Desus Nice also shared their disappointment and concerns about the implications for media independence. Colbert has been a consistent critic of Trump since taking over ‘The Late Show’ in 2015.

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