Over 250K Sign Petition, Rally Urge CBS to Reverse Stephen Colbert Show Cancellation

More than 250,000 people have signed a petition organized by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee urging CBS and its parent company, Paramount Global, to reverse the decision to cancel "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," set to end in May 2026. Petitioners and demonstrators allege the cancellation is politically motivated, pointing to Paramount's recent $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump over a lawsuit related to a 60 Minutes interview, which Colbert publicly criticized as a "big fat bribe." Supporters, including Democratic lawmakers and fellow comedians, argue that silencing Colbert's dissenting voice threatens American democracy and press freedom amid concerns about institutions yielding to political pressure from the Trump administration. CBS maintains the cancellation is a financial decision unrelated to the show's content or recent corporate matters, noting the show's $100 million annual production cost and an average viewership of 1.9 million. The controversy has fueled public outrage, with tens of thousands of Paramount Plus subscribers threatening to cancel their subscriptions if the show ends, while a rally in Manhattan drew attention to the issue. The ongoing debate highlights broader tensions around media independence, corporate influence, and political interference in the current political climate.