Comedian and political commentator Stephen Colbert has announced that CBS will cancel his talk show “The Late Show” starting May 2026. The decision comes amid controversy surrounding a settlement between President Donald Trump and Paramount Global, CBS’s parent company.
CBS stated that the cancellation was due to financial reasons, not related to the show’s performance or content. However, Colbert had criticized the settlement on air, calling it a “big fat bribe.” Trump has welcomed the news, saying he “absolutely loves” the decision and claimed his show would have done better.
Press freedom groups and some Democrats have accused Paramount of using the settlement as leverage to secure favorable treatment from the Trump administration in exchange for its merger with Skydance Media. Senator Adam Schiff has expressed concerns that CBS canceled the show on political grounds, saying America “deserves better.”
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has defended Colbert’s show, calling it one of the most successful and profitable programs on CBS. The union is now urging New York State Attorney General Letitia James to investigate what they claim is a bribe meant to sacrifice free speech.
Colbert had hinted at the settlement during his Monday episode, saying he “doesn’t know if anything can repair my trust in this company” but acknowledged that $16 million could help. He later confirmed on Thursday that “The Late Show” would indeed end, describing it as a loss and stating he was “not being replaced.” The show’s cancellation has sparked outrage from the audience, with viewers responding with loud boos.
Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/18/cbs-cancels-stephen-colbert-00462089