Stephen Colbert says he has no regrets about a monologue that included a crude sexual reference on the relationship between the presidents of the United States and Russia and has since prompted calls to…
LOS ANGELES — Stephen Colbert says he has no regrets about a monologue that included a crude sexual reference on the relationship between the presidents of the United States and Russia and has since prompted calls to fire him and boycott « Late Show » advertisers.
« He, I believe, can take care of himself, » Colbert said at a Wednesday taping of his CBS late-night show. « I have jokes; he has the launch codes. So, it’s a fair fight. »
In his Monday monologue, Colbert said: « Mr. Trump, your presidency, I love your presidency. I call it « Disgrace the Nation. »
He also made a sexual reference to the male anatomy, saying of Donald Trump: « The only thing your mouth is good for is being Vladimir Putin’s c— holster. »
That raised the hackles of conservatives and Trump supporters, who accused Colbert of obscenity and making a homophobic remark that would have gotten right-wing pundits canned.
Colbert joked about the backlash in the opening moments of the Wednesday show. According to a CBS transcript mentioned in the Washington Post, the comedian told the audience: « Welcome to ‘The Late Show.’ I’m your host, Stephen Colbert. Still? I am still the host? I’m still the host!! »
Colbert said he was upset at Trump for insulting a friend, « Face the Nation » host John Dickerson. Trump referred to that show as « Deface the Nation » and later walked out on Dickerson during a weekend interview.
Colbert said he didn’t regret making « a few choice insults » but acknowledged he may have gone a bit too far and also indirectly addressed the homophobic accusation.
« So while I would do it again, I would change a few words that were cruder than they needed to be, » he concluded. « I’m not going to repeat the phrase, but I just want to say for the record, life is short, and anyone who expresses their love for another person, in their own way, is to me, an American hero.
« I think we can all agree on that. I hope even the president and I can agree on that. Nothing else. But, that. »
