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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Ekin Karasin

Celebrities voice dismay over 'bulls** t' axing of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Celebrities have voiced their shock and dismay at the announcement that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is being cancelled.

CBS revealed the popular late-night US chat show has been axed entirely and Colbert will not be replaced. The final show will air in May 2026

The news comes just days after Colbert, 61, called out CBS’s parent company, Paramount, for settling a lawsuit with Donald Trump for £12 million.

The US President had claimed that CBS News deceptively edited an interview with the then-presidential candidate, Kamala Harris.

Colbert claimed the settlement was a “big fat bribe,” considering Paramount is seeking approval from the US Federal Communications Commission for an £6.2 billion merger with Skydance Media.

The comedian, who has hosted the show since 2015, announced news of the show’s end during Thursday night’s episode.

He said he’d been told of the decision the night before and, as the audience booed, he quipped: “Yeah, I share your feelings.”

Colbert went on: “It’s not just the end of the show, it is the end of the Late Show on CBS. I’m not being replaced, this is all just going away.

“Let me tell you, it is a fantastic job. I wish someone else was getting it. And it is a job I am looking forward to doing with this usual gang of idiots for another 10 months.”

Colbert added that he was “grateful” to the viewers and the 200-strong crew.

A slew of famous faces shared their outrage at the show’s cancellation.

Actor Adam Scott wrote on Instagram: “Love you Stephen. This is absolute bulls**t, and I for one am looking forward to the next 10 months of shows.”

Actress Rachel Zegler added: “I am extremely sad. i adore you, stephen,” and broadcaster Katie Couric penned: “I am so upset about this. I need more information. We love you.”

Colbert recently called out CBS for settling a lawsuit with Donald Trump (REUTERS)

Director Judd Apatow posted: “My admiration and appreciation for you is bottomless. Excited to see what other brilliance you put into the world.”

Senator Adam Schiff, a Democrat who appeared as a guest on Thursday night’s show, wrote: “If Paramount and CBS ended the Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know. And deserves better.”

Paramount Global have been trying to close a merger with Skydance after the deal fell through last year. Paramount bosses have been pushing the Trump administration to approve the merger.

Earlier this week, Colbert blasted Paramount for settling Trump’s lawsuit.

“Paramount knows they could have fought it,” he said on Tuesday’s episode, pointing out that the company had called the lawsuit “completely without merit”.

He added jokingly: “And keep in mind, Paramount produced Transformers: Rise of the Beast – they know completely without merit.”

Colbert replaced David Letterman as host of the Late Show in 2015. Letterman had fronted the show for 22 years.

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