«The Late Show» staff and others believe Colbert was ousted over his repeated criticism of President Donald Trump
Stephen Colbert’s announcement at the top of his show on Thursday that “The Late Show” will end in May 2026 was met with skepticism — and, indeed, outrage — from those who saw the decision as being politically motivated.
CBS and its parent company, Paramount, insist the move was “purely a financial decision” made amid a challenging late-night landscape; Colbert had helmed the highest-rated show in his time slot. Executives called him “irreplaceable” and said the franchise itself would be retired.
But critics, and even some CBS staff, aren’t buying it. The announcement came just days after Colbert torched Paramount on air for paying Donald Trump $16 million to settle a $20 billion lawsuit over a “60 Minutes” interview. In Monday’s monologue, Colbert called the settlement “a big, fat bribe,” adding: “As someone who has always been a proud employee of this network, I am offended.
