Jon Stewart backed Stephen Colbert during Monday night’s monologue on The Daily Show, joining a chorus of voices slamming CBS after its abrupt decision to end The Late Show in 2026, which Colbert has hosted for a decade.
In a statement last week, the network claimed the cancellation was financial. However, the decision to axe Colbert‘s top-rated show drew backlash, since the announcement came days after Colbert criticized Paramount, CBS’ parent company, over its decision to agree to a settlement with Trump.
“I understand the corporate fear. I understand the fear that you and your advertisers have with $8 billion at stake, but understand this, truly, the shows that you now seek to cancel, censor, and control — a not insignificant portion of that $8 billion value — came from those fucking shows,” said Stewart in his fiery tirade. “That’s what made you that money. Shows that say something, shows that take a stand, shows that are unafraid.”
The late night host warned institutions backing down: “If you believe as corporations or as networks, you can make yourselves so innocuous that you can serve a gruel so flavorless that you will never again be on the boy king’s radar … Why will anyone watch you and you are fucking wrong.”
Using Donald Trump‘s lawsuit against billionaire Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch over The Wall Street Journal‘s report on a birthday letter Trump allegedly wrote to Jeffrey Epstein, Stewart quipped: “[Murdoch] is the man who — other than Biden — may be the most responsible for getting Trump elected.” Then, the late night host added, “Fox spends 24 hours a day blowing Trump, and it’s not enough. Imagine suing somebody mid-blow — ‘Finish up down there, and I’ll see you in court.’”
Paramount, which owns both CBS and Comedy Central, has faced financial struggles amid a merger with Skydance Media proposed last year, and it is still awaiting approval by the Trump administration’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Earlier this month, Trump received a $16 million settlement in a lawsuit he filed against CBS regarding the editing of a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris, which Colbert called a “big fat bribe.”
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“If you’re trying to figure out why Stephen’s show is ending, I don’t think the answer can be found in some smoking gun email or phone call from Trump to CBS executives or in CBS’ QuickBooks spreadsheets on the financial health of late night,” Stewart continued on Monday’s episode. “I think the answer is in the fear and pre-compliance that is gripping all of America’s institutions at this very moment, institutions that have chosen not to fight the vengeful and vindictive actions of our pubic hair doodling Commander in Chief. This is not the moment to give in.”
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“I’m not giving in, I’m not going anywhere, I think,” he said, alluding to the possibility that Paramount might also shutdown The Daily Show. With the help of a gospel choir, Stewart echoed a sentiment previously shared by Colbert, singing: “If you’re afraid and you protect your bottom line … I’ve got but one thing to say ‘Go fuck yourself.’”
