Barstool Sports Founder Blasts Colbert After Show Cancellation: ‘This is Called Capitalism in the Real World’ originally appeared on Parade.

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has his own take on why CBS decided that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would end its run in May 2026.

In the days after its host Stephen Colbertannounced the news on-air, many called the move censorship — especially in light of Colbert’s on-air criticism of CBS’s parent company for settling a lawsuit with Donald Trump just days before.

In a blunt video posted to X (formerly Twitter), Portnoy laid out his case.

“Colbert makes $16 million a year. The Late Show with Colbert loses $40 to $50 million a year. They have a staff of 200 people,” he said. “Late night ratings are down across the board.”

Portnoy attempted to explain the economics: “If one of my employees who I’m paying $16 million a year while losing $40 million a year went on their show and was like, ‘I don’t like Dave. I don’t trust Dave’ — you know what I’d do?” he asked rhetorically. “Buddy, you’re losing $40 million a year, and then you have the arrogance to hammer your own company? What did you think was going to happen? Of course they’d fire you. I’d fire you in a f—ing heartbeat.”

Colbert used part of his July 14 monologue to blast Paramount’s $16 million settlement with Trump.

“Big, fat bribe,” Colbert said on air. “As someone who has always been a proud employee of this network, I am offended. And I don’t know if anything will ever repair my trust in this company. But just taking a stab at it, I’d say $16 million would help.”

Those words now echo with extra weight, considering the show’s sudden cancellation three days later. While CBS maintains the decision was strictly financial, others aren’t so sure.

Senator Elizabeth Warren tweeted that “America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons,” while Bernie Sanders and Adam Schiff both raised questions about whether the firing was in response to Colbert’s criticism of Trump and corporate influence.

Trump, for his part, celebrated the decision. “I absolutely love that Colbert got fired,” he wrote on Truth Social. “His talent was even less than his ratings.”

But Portnoy dismissed the outrage as political theater: “This isn’t politics,” he said. “This is called capitalism in the real world.”

Portnoy argued that the very structure of legacy media is outdated, noting that Barstool’s own 200-person team produces over 30 shows, many of which draw larger audiences than Colbert.

“I’ve been on Rogan’s podcast, Theo Von, Alex Cooper, all podcasts that are far more influential, reach way more people than late night at this day and age,” he said.

Still, The Late Show was reportedly the top-rated late-night show this past quarter and a consistent source of cultural and political commentary. Colbert’s defenders say canceling the show, especially after such a public rebuke of the network, sends a dangerous message.

But Portnoy isn’t swayed. “You’re losing $40 million a year,” he repeated. “You better shut up and be a good soldier and thank your lucky stars you still have a job.”

Barstool Sports Founder Blasts Colbert After Show Cancellation: ‘This is Called Capitalism in the Real World’ first appeared on Parade on Jul 19, 2025

This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 19, 2025, where it first appeared.