On July 17, news broke that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will be canceled after its 11th season in 2026.
CBS Photo Archive / CBS via Getty Images
During a heartbreaking segment on his show, Stephen announced the news, saying, “Next year will be our last season. The network will be ending The Late Show in May.” When the crowd booed, Stephen said, “Yeah, I share your feelings. It’s not just the end of our show, but it’s the end of The Late Show on CBS. I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away.”
CBS Photo Archive / CBS via Getty Images
CBS’s The Late Show franchise has been around since 1993 and was previously hosted by David Letterman.
Not too long after Stephen’s announcement, CBS confirmed the news in a public statement, explaining the cancellation was “purely a financial decision.”
Regardless of any public statement, people couldn’t help but speculate that politics influenced CBS’s decision to end The Late Show since the network’s parent company, Paramount, had recently settled a $16-million lawsuit with President Donald Trump. Trump had accused the show 60 Minutes of editing an interview with Kamala Harris, which, he claimed, misled voters.
Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images
On top of that, Stephen has always challenged Trump’s administration. Amid CBS’s sale to Skydance, he even recently criticized Paramount for paying the settlement, since they also need Trump’s administration approval for the sale. “My parent corporation, Paramount, paid Donald Trump a $16-million settlement over his 60 Minutes lawsuit. 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.”
Related: 21 Celebs Who Took Normal Jobs After Their Hollywood Money Ran Out
Celebrities and politicians shared their thoughts on CBS’s decision, and they’re very upset, and many of them are claiming foul play.
“It’s bad,” Oscar-winner Jamie Lee Curtis said to Associated Press. “He’s a great, great guy. They just cut NPR and, you know, public broadcasting. Yes, they’re trying to silence people, but that won’t work. It won’t work. We will just get louder.”
Actor John Cusack shared an X post, writing, “He’s not groveling enough to American fascism – Larry Ellison needs his tax cuts — doesn’t need comedians reminding people they are not cattle .”
Academy Award-winner Zoe Saldaña reshared a Washington Post Instagram that said, “The highest-rated show on late night, ‘The Late Night Show with Stephen Colbert,’ was nominated for an Emmy on Tuesday. On Thursday, Paramount/CBS announced its cancellation.”
Emmy and Tony Award-winning actor Kristin Chenoweth expressed her shock and disapproval at the news of the cancellation.
The Boys star Jack Quaid shared, “This is such utter horseshit. You are a legend, sir. Thank you for everything.”
Actor Ben Stiller wrote, “Sorry to hear @CBS is canceling one of the best shows they have. Wishing all the people who work so hard on that show all the best.”
Actor Kerry Washington shared a screenshot of her appearance on The Late Show with the text, “Endless laughs with you always @stephathome. So deeply disheartened and disappointed to hear about @colbertlateshow. You have a way of bringing joy and finding the light even the scariest of times. We’re forever grateful.”
Actor and director Olivia Wilde shared a broken heart emoji on an Instagram story alongside a screenshot of Stephen Colbert.
Your Friends & Neighbors actor Olivia Munn shared her heartbreak over the news.
Actor John Leguizamo shared a series of Instagram stories calling to “boycott cbs,” claiming the cancellation is “morally sickening.”
@johnleguizamo / Via Instagram: @https://www.instagram.com/johnleguizamo/?hl=en
Actor Kathryn Hahn wrote, “I’m sick to my stomach. Thank you, Mr. Colbert, for your genius.”
Grammy Award-winner Jon Batiste, who once led The Late Show house band, wrote, “The greatest to ever do it.”
Jon Lampley, who plays in the house band on The Late Show, shared a post on the show’s official Instagram. “Being a part of this show and this band has been one of the great honors of my life. Nothing but Gratitude to be a part of the greatest team in Late Night.”
Fellow host Jimmy Kimmel didn’t hold back on his Instagram story and shared, “Love you Stephen. Fuck you and all your Sheldons CBS,” referring to the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory, its prequel, Young Sheldon, and the spinoff, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.
“Boooooo. Paramount bending the knee to authoritarian strategy. I guess it’s Make America North Korea now!!! Appreciate you Always SC!!!” Radio host Charlamagne tha God wrote.
During a segment of his show, Anderson Cooper said, “I’ve had the pleasure and honor of being a guest on Late Night with Stephen Colbert more times than I can count. I just wanted to take a minute and say how shocked and truly saddened that I am by the news that his show will be canceled. Stephen Colbert is smart, and he is funny and he has actual conversations with people on his program… The thing that so many of us love about Stephen Colbert is he is at heart an incredibly decent human being with an amazing wife, family, and strong faith.”
The Daily Show correspondent Desi Lydic expressed her love for Stephen.
Fellow host Seth Meyers shared an Instagram story, writing, “For as great a comedian and host he is, @stephenathome is an even better person. I’m going to miss having him on TV every night but I’m excited he can no longer use the excuse that he’s ‘too busy to hang out’ with me.”
“This is heartbreaking,” journalist Katie Couric said in a lengthy Instagram post. “Stephen Colbert is more than a late night host. He is thoughtful, erudite and insightful. A really good human. And of course hilarious. This just seems wrong.”
Bravo’s Andy Cohen was “so pissed off” by the news.
In a 10-minute TikTok video, Rosie O’Donnell blasted Trump as a “madman” and the reason for *The Late Show’*s cancellation. “How long do all of the voices against this horrific administration have in terms of their careers and ability to make money?” she asked. “Because this madman, this mentally incapacitated, physically ill, mentally ill man is spiraling out of control. His dementia is out of control. His self-regulation – which he has none of to begin with – is missing. He’s horrible.”
@rosie / Via tiktok.com
Comedian Ziwe, who cited Stephen as an influence for her satirical style of commentary, showed her love amid the news.
“You are so Loved Stephen. You cracked us up while speaking truth to power. You came to late night and conquered now take a well deserved vacation and think of what you may want to do next because we’ll all be watching,” comedian and actor Cheri Oteri wrote.
Related: 21 Times Celebrities Were So, Soooooo Shady
Actor and comedian Rachel Dratch wrote, “So wrong on so many levels. Cant wait to see what you do next.”
Comedian and actor Ben Schwartz called Stephen an “Icon.”
Bowen Yang spoke to iHeart Radio at the Las Culturistas Culture Awards red carpet, saying, “It’s so tragic. Late night TV is one of the only ways we have of processing news in a way that is tangible and beautiful and funny and the people who have hosted these shows are at the top of their game. It has given comedians and people in the industry something to aspire to. I think it’s a really dark day.”
Author Stephen King shared an X post, writing, “Colbert canceled? Please tell me it’s a joke.”
Former Democratic representative Stacey Abrams wrote, “The news of Stephen Colbert’s late-night show cancellation is disheartening. I’ve been fortunate to appear on @colbertlateshow four different times. Each time, Stephen asked important questions and made sure to make us laugh.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren shared her callout of CBS and the Trump administration on her X account, writing, “CBS canceled Colbert’s show just THREE DAYS after Colbert called out CBS parent company Paramount for its $16M settlement with Trump – a deal that looks like bribery. America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons.”
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives Hakeem Jeffries said, “Thank you Stephen Colbert for your willingness to speak truth to power. Staying far from timid. And never bending the knee to a wannabe king.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders said, “CBS’s billionaire owners pay Trump $16 million to settle a bogus lawsuit while trying to sell the network to Skydance. Stephen Colbert, an extraordinary talent and the most popular late night host, slams the deal. Days later, he’s fired. Do I think this is a coincidence? NO.”
And Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz wrote, “Stephen Colbert is the best in the business. He always told truth to power and pulled no punches. We need more of that, not less.”
Let us know what you think in the comments, and we’ll keep you updated if we learn anything new.
Also in Celebrity: 34 Cringey Celeb Moments That I Feel Like Everyone Collectively Forgot
Also in Celebrity: “It’s Always Fat People”: 28 Times Celebrities Said Some Really, Really Messed-Up Stuff That Just Flew Under The Radar
Also in Celebrity: This ’90s Icon Is Headed For Divorce After 21 Years Of Marriage