Stephen Colbert Receives Overwhelming Support After Announcement of The Late Show Cancellation

Stephen Colbert felt the outpouring of love and support from fellow late-night hosts and celebrities during his Monday night show, following the shocking announcement that The Late Show would be ending.

Addressing his live studio audience, Colbert acknowledged the cancellation but emphasized the show’s true mission: to change how viewers felt by the end of the day. “We never saw our job as changing anything other than how you felt at the end of the day, which I think is a worthy goal,” he said, adding with humor, “Or rather, changing how you felt the next morning when you watched on your phone, which is why broadcast TV is dying.”

Seeking to uplift the mood, Colbert brought out Lin-Manuel Miranda and “Weird Al” Yankovic to perform Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida.” The show featured a Coldplay-inspired kiss cam parody, highlighting solidarity from prominent figures such as Andy Cohen, Anderson Cooper, Adam Sandler, John Oliver, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and Jon Stewart.

Last week, CBS and Paramount Global announced the conclusion of The Late Show at the end of the 2025-26 season, citing financial challenges in a declining traditional TV landscape. Colbert revealed he learned about the cancellation just a day before a recent taping, prompting boos from his audience.

In a pointed monologue, Colbert joked about the timing of the cancellation, referencing his recent critical remarks against Paramount’s $16 million settlement with former President Donald Trump over a lawsuit concerning a 60 Minutes interview with Vice President Kamala Harris.

The cancellation occurs amid Paramount’s pending merger with Skydance Media, a deal still awaiting FCC approval. Industry insiders have speculated that the lawsuit and political pressure may have influenced the timing, though CBS insists the settlement was unrelated to the show’s end.

Colbert addressed rumors about financial losses, calling into question the figures cited by CBS, “Forty million is a big number. I could see us losing $24 million, but where would Paramount have possibly spent the other $16 million? Oh yeah.”

Following the cancellation news, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to celebrate the firing of Colbert, disparaging his talent and ratings. Colbert responded with sharp wit during his show, telling Trump, “Go fuck yourself,” to cheers from the audience.

Since taking over in 2015 from David Letterman, who originated The Late Show in 1993, Colbert has become a leading voice in late-night television, known for his sharp political satire and insightful commentary.