Stephen Colbert has returned to the airwaves following the cancellation of his Late Show, which he claims was axed to appease Donald Trump. In his first broadcast since the decision, Colbert declared that “the gloves are off” and directed an expletive-laden tirade at the president.
The cancellation came after Colbert criticised Paramount's $16m settlement with Trump over a separate CBS show, 60 Minutes, calling it a “big fat bribe”. Paramount, which needs FCC approval for its $8bn sale to Skydance, pulled the plug three days later. Trump celebrated the move on Truth Social, writing: “I absolutely love that Colbert was fired.”
Colbert joked about the situation, referencing his moustache and the suggestion that the show lost $40-50m last year. He quipped that he could account for losing $24m annually, adding: “Where would Paramount have possibly spent the other $16m? Oh yeah.”
Fellow hosts including Jon Stewart, John Oliver, Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon showed solidarity. Stewart lambasted Paramount on The Daily Show, accusing it of trying to “censor and control” hosts and leading a chant of “go fuck yourselves” directed at corporations bending the knee to Trump.
Outside the Ed Sullivan Theater, protesters held placards reading “Colbert Stays! Trump Must Go!” Audience member Elizabeth Kott, a high school teacher, called the firing “terrible”, adding: “It’s really awful that companies feel the need to obey in advance.”
