CBS Cancels Stephen Colbert ‘Late Show’ Prompting Industry Backlash

The cancellation of CBS's 'Late Show with Stephen Colbert,' set to end in May 2026, has sparked significant backlash from the entertainment community, including David Letterman and Jon Stewart. Letterman responded by posting clips criticizing CBS, while Stewart vehemently condemned Paramount Global, CBS's parent company, accusing it of succumbing to corporate fear amid its $8 billion merger and implicitly yielding to political pressures related to President Trump. CBS executives maintain the decision was purely financial, but critics highlight the timing amid the merger and suggest it aligns with broader attempts to silence dissenting voices. Stewart and other comedians appeared in a supportive sketch on Colbert’s show, highlighting a shared sense of loss and resistance to perceived censorship. The controversy underscores concerns about the influence of political and corporate power on media content and the future of outspoken late-night programming. Colbert himself joked about the show's demise, framing it as an example of cancel culture gone too far and lamenting the loss of the iconic 'Late Show' legacy on CBS.