Writers Guild Calls Bribery Probe into Paramount After Colbert Cancellation

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has called on New York Attorney General Letitia James to investigate Paramount Global following the abrupt cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The WGA alleges that the cancellation may be linked to Colbert's public criticism of Paramount's $16 million settlement with President Trump, which some view as a bribe to secure approval for Paramount's $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media. Colbert had called the settlement a 'big fat bribe' just two days before the show's cancellation, intensifying concerns that the termination was a response to political pressure rather than purely financial reasons. The union condemned the decision as a dangerous capitulation to political pressure, threatening free speech and democratic principles. The settlement has also drawn scrutiny from media watchdogs and prompted investigations by the California State Senate, while Senator Elizabeth Warren has requested a federal probe into the legality of the payment. The WGA's statement emphasized that sacrificing free speech to curry favor with the Trump administration undermines the integrity of the media industry.