CBS and mother or father firm Paramount International shocked audiences and media figures alike on July 17, 2025, once they introduced the cancellation of “The Late Present with Stephen Colbert,” per Deadline. Colbert, the successor of authentic host David Letterman, fronted the present for the primary time on September 8, 2015, turning into synonymous with the Trump period of late-night tv. CBS is not simply changing Colbert, however axing “The Late Present” solely. The speak present premiered on August 30, 1993, and has been filmed on the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York ever since, having aired 5,933 episodes throughout 32 years, and will proceed to air till Could 2026.

Whereas “The Late Present” will not be fairly the establishment as NBC’s “The Tonight Present,” having solely had two hosts (Letterman and Colbert) since its inception, it has nonetheless been a distinguished fixture within the late-night panorama, having gained a Peabody and garnered six Emmy nominations for Excellent Selection Speak Collection. The truth is, it has been the highest-rated late-night present for 9 consecutive seasons, and CBS has been the most-watched community for 17 seasons in a row (per Nielsen and Paramount). Maybe that is why followers have been confused when CBS known as the cancellation “a monetary determination.”

Whereas Puck’s Matthew Belloni has claimed “The Late Present” was dropping CBS $40 million a 12 months, the timing of CBS’ determination has solely difficult issues additional. Hypothesis in regards to the cancellation is effervescent up all around the web, with everybody from Jimmy Kimmel to Donald Trump weighing in on the surprising information.

Regardless of ending their late-night speak present in controversy, CBS effusively praised “The Late Present” and Stephen Colbert of their press assertion (as shared by CNN’s Brian Stelter). “Our admiration, affection, and respect for the skills of Stephen Colbert and his unbelievable staff made this agonizing determination much more troublesome,” learn the joint assertion from co-CEO of Paramount International and president of CBS George Cheeks; Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Leisure; and David Stapf, president of CBS Studios. “Stephen has taken CBS late night time by storm with cutting-edge comedy, a must-watch monologue and interviews,” they add. “Stephen’s comedy resonates every day throughout digital and social media; and the printed is a staple of the nation’s zeitgeist.”

Colbert, who understands tragedy, introduced the information to his viewers, which responded with vocal disappointment. “I share your emotions,” responded Colbert (by way of Instagram). “I do need to say that the parents at CBS have been nice companions. … I’m grateful to you, the viewers … I’m terribly deeply grateful to the 200 individuals who work right here. … It’s a improbable job. I want someone else was getting it.”

Colbert then introduced his pleasure at having 10 extra months to do the job, although “The Late Present” will definitely really feel totally different with this sense of impending finality enshrouding each episode. It is also ample time for hypothesis to run wild and attainable investigations to be performed, as many individuals assume there’s one thing fishy about this cancellation.

“That is purely a monetary determination,” famous CBS’ press assertion, “not associated in any technique to the present’s efficiency, content material or different issues occurring at Paramount.” Regardless of this, many individuals are involved about precisely that, specifically “different issues” associated to politics and a serious company merger between Paramount International and Skydance Media.

The $8 billion merger has been below assessment by the FCC for practically one 12 months, with a deadline of October 6, 2025. With each the FCC chairman (Brendan Carr) and Skydance CEO (David Ellison) being right-wing supporters of President Trump, there was hypothesis that CBS is not only compromising however utterly capitulating, per The Wrap. In spite of everything, the FCC has made their agenda clear, having just lately gutted public media and focused supposedly “woke” shops. “Any companies which are searching for FCC approval, I might encourage them to get busy ending any form of their invidious types of DEI discrimination,” Carr instructed Bloomberg on March 21.

Paramount’s determination to settle a lawsuit with Trump was additionally scrutinized as a sort of acquiescence to the FCC. The truth is, three days earlier than being canceled, Colbert known as the settlement a “large fats bribe.” Senator Elizabeth Warren seen this, writing on X, “CBS canceled Colbert’s present simply THREE DAYS after Colbert known as out CBS mother or father firm Paramount for its $16M settlement with Trump – a deal that appears like bribery.” Again in Could, Warren opened an precise investigation into Paramount’s merger.

Elizabeth Warren was hardly the one politician to talk out in regards to the cancellation of “The Late Present.” Senator Adam Schiff, who was a visitor on Colbert’s present the night time of the announcement, wrote on X, “Simply completed taping with Stephen Colbert who introduced his present was cancelled. If Paramount and CBS ended the Late Present for political causes, the general public deserves to know. And deserves higher.” In the meantime, Senator Martin Heinrich wrote on X, “CBS sells out … once more.” Former congressperson Adam Kinzinger merely urged his X followers to cancel their Paramount+ subscriptions.

Congressperson Pramila Jayapal added her voice to the refrain on X, echoing Senator Warren’s message by writing, “Stephen Colbert’s present was canceled three days after he known as out Paramount, CBS’s mother or father firm, for folding to Trump with a $16M settlement for a lawsuit that even they known as ‘with out benefit.’ Folks need to know if this can be a politically motivated assault on free speech.”

One politician on the opposite facet of the ideological spectrum has in reality celebrated the cancellation, and that is Donald Trump. “I completely love that Colbert acquired fired. His expertise was even lower than his scores,” Trump wrote on his Fact Social community. “I hear Jimmy Kimmel is subsequent. Has even much less expertise than Colbert!” The petty glee with which Trump, who counts Colbert as amongst his largest critics, embraces the cancellation of “The Late Present” actually does not assist dispel allegations that CBS pulled the plug to assist its dealings with the FCC.

Colbert’s friends within the late-night neighborhood have been particularly vocal about his cancellation. Jimmy Kimmel was the primary late-night host to react (and with profane brevity), posting a narrative on his Instagram which learn, “Love you Stephen. F*** you and all of your Sheldons CBS” (by way of The Hollywood Reporter). Jimmy Fallon additionally posted to Instagram, writing, “I am simply as shocked as everybody. Stephen is without doubt one of the sharpest, funniest hosts to ever do it. I actually thought I might journey this out with him for years to return.”

In his Instagram Tales, Seth Meyers wrote, “For as nice a comic and host he’s, Stephen Colbert is a fair higher individual. I’ll miss having him on TV each night time however I am excited he can not use the excuse that he is ‘too busy to hang around’ with me.”

Colbert and “The Late Present” started trending shortly after the information was introduced Thursday night, and the eye to CBS’ determination has solely grown since then. There was cacophonous on-line noise from each blindsided followers and giddy, gloating haters alike. Charlotte Clymer writes in a viral X publish, “‘Monetary causes’ my ass. That is purely political.” In the meantime, Meghan McCain warns on X, “If Jimmy Fallon and his staff have been good they might begin inviting distinguished republicans on as friends and deal with them like people.” To which Mike Nellis responds by writing, “Meghan McCain mainly admiting [sic] Colbert was fired for being important of Trump.”

“The Each day Present” host Jon Stewart thought-about this on the day Colbert was canceled, ruminating over the Paramount merger earlier than CBS dropped the information. “The Each day Present” airs on Comedy Central, which is owned by Paramount. “We have not heard something from [Paramount or CBS],” stated Stewart on the July 17, 2025, episode of his “Weekly Present” podcast. “They have not known as me and stated like, ‘Do not get too snug in that workplace.’ … In the event that they’re it as purely an actual property transaction, I believe we carry a variety of worth. That might not be their consideration. They might promote the entire f****** place for components.”

Late-night is on shaky floor exterior Paramount, as effectively, and Colbert’s fellow TV hosts aren’t simply unhappy about “The Late Present,” however possible fearful about their very own reveals. If the most-watched program of the bunch can get axed, what does that say about theirs? As former “Tonight Present” showrunner Gavin Purcell instructed The Hollywood Reporter, late-night goes by way of a serious transition. “What you are seeing is the sluggish destruction of the normal Hollywood pipeline, and you are going to see so much much less large pictures,” stated Purcell. “On networks, it is simply trickier now.”

Jimmy Kimmel is within the ultimate season of his three-year contract, per The Hollywood Reporter, and it stays to be seen whether or not “Jimmy Kimmel Dwell!” will proceed after that. Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon have contracts by way of 2028. And, in fact, “The Late Present” has till Could 2026.

On July 18, 2025, the Writers Guild of America launched a press assertion in help of Colbert, calling on New York State Legal professional Normal Letitia James (who beforehand prosecuted Donald Trump) to research Paramount. The WGA presents the chronology of occasions in a manner which questions the motives of CBS — Paramount settled the “baseless” lawsuit with Trump on July 2; Colbert calls it a “large fats bribe” on July 15; CBS cancels his present on July 17. “The Writers Guild of America has important issues that ‘The Late Present’s cancelation is a bribe, sacrificing free speech to curry favor with the Trump Administration as the corporate seems for merger approval,” writes the WGA.

The assertion goes on to recommend that the “unhealthy religion” termination of the present was all the way down to political stress, one thing which is “harmful and unacceptable in a democratic society,” particularly at a time when free speech and the appropriate of dissent is seemingly below assault. “We name on our elected leaders to carry these accountable to account,” concludes the WGA assertion, “and to guarantee the general public that Colbert and his writers weren’t censored attributable to their views or the whims of the President.”

If Colbert’s cancellation was meant to capitulate to the FCC, as some have alleged, the choice might have simply backfired horribly. There’s now a fair brighter highlight on Paramount and their merger with Skydance, shining away any shady deeds.