Edith Hejberg
Critics allege the firing was a strategic move to smooth that process, sacrificing Colbert to appease Trump.
In his first public appearance since The Late Show was abruptly cancelled, Stephen Colbert didn’t hold back. Opening Monday night’s special episode, he directly addressed Donald Trump, saying, “Go f*** yourself,” and declared the gloves were off.
The show’s cancellation sparked outrage and suspicion, with many linking it to CBS’s settlement with Trump just days earlier.
A $16 Million Deal and a Cancelled Show
Colbert accused CBS, part of Paramount, of paying Trump what he called a “big fat bribe” a $16 million settlement related to a 60 Minutes episode.
The timing was suspicious: three days later, Paramount pulled the plug on Colbert’s top-rated show, as Trump gloated online, posting, “I absolutely love that Colbert was fired.”
Trump’s FCC Power Looms Over Paramount Deal
Colbert’s ousting comes at a critical time for Paramount, which needs regulatory approval from the Trump-influenced FCC for its $8 billion merger with Skydance.
Critics allege the firing was a strategic move to smooth that process, sacrificing Colbert to appease Trump.
Colbert Jokes Through the Fallout
As always, Colbert used humor to cut through the tension. He quipped that CBS axed him over a moustache joke: “This is worse than fascism.
This is stachism.” He also mocked CBS’s leaked claim that The Late Show lost $40–$50 million, hinting where the mysterious $16 million may have gone.
Fellow Hosts Rally in Solidarity
Colbert wasn’t alone. The episode featured appearances from late-night allies John Oliver, Seth Meyers, and Jon Stewart, alongside entertainers like Lin-Manuel Miranda, Weird Al, and Adam Sandler. Their unified presence signaled a rare show of late-night solidarity.
Stewart Unleashes on CBS and Corporate Cowardice
Jon Stewart, who launched Colbert’s late-night career, used The Daily Show to fiercely attack Paramount. He questioned why CBS wouldn’t fight to protect its number-one franchise and slammed corporations for becoming so bland they avoid offending Trump. “You are f***ing wrong,” he declared.
A Choir of Defiance on The Daily Show
Stewart’s rant didn’t end with words. He led his audience and a choir in a defiant chant of “go f*** yourselves” aimed at corporations willing to bow to Trump. It was an emotional moment of catharsis and protest, amplified by Stewart’s legendary comic fury.
Viewers Threaten Boycott as Fallon Mocks CBS
Jimmy Fallon added his own jab from The Tonight Show, noting viewers were planning to boycott CBS. He joked that the network could lose “millions of viewers, plus tens of hundreds watching on Paramount+,” a subtle dig at its shrinking relevance.
Sandra Oh Backs Colbert: “A Plague on CBS”
Actor Sandra Oh was visibly emotional during her guest spot, denouncing CBS and Paramount and saluting Colbert’s legacy of holding power to account. Colbert, touched, admitted to nerves and thanked the audience: “I will miss you.”
Fans and Protesters Rally Outside Ed Sullivan Theater
Outside the famed Ed Sullivan Theater, fans gathered with signs reading “Colbert Stays! Trump Must Go!” High school teacher Elizabeth Kott, 48, summed up the mood: “It’s terrible. We’re now in a country where companies feel the need to obey in advance. It’s really awful.”
