The outpouring of support for Stephen Colbert and his staff following CBS’ decision to cancel The Late Show continues to stream in, with actors, comics, journalists, and even brands weighing in.
“Sorry to hear CBS is canceling one of the best shows they have,” Ben Stiller wrote on X. “Wishing all the people who work so hard on that show all the best.”
“Congrats to Stephen Colbert for never bending the knee,” wrote comedian and Have I Got News For You panelist Michael Ian Black.
Producer Judd Apatow commented on Colbert’s shock announcement video with his own praise. “My admiration and appreciation for you is bottomless,” he said. “Excited to see what other brilliance you put into the world. ❤️”
In another comment on that post, Severance star Adam Scott didn’t mince words. “Love you Stephen. This is absolute bullshit, and I for one am looking forward to the next 10 months of shows. ✊😡💔”
Superman Returns actor Brandon Routh offered support as well: “Thank you for your courage and bravery in giving voice to the injustice so many of us recognize!” he commented. “This news feels unjust.”
Meanwhile, comedian and actor Patton Oswalt squarely called bull on the notion that Colbert’s ouster was merely a “financial decision,” as CBS has said. “NO. No it isn’t. It is not,” Oswalt wrote. “Everyone knows what is happening but they’ve taken away simple, declarative sentences that describe obvious truths… There’s only one side and that side is the cowcatcher of a locomotive heading straight toward us.”
In the wake of the news, MSNBC reporter Chris Hayes took to Bluesky to celebrate Colbert. “I’d say that [Colbert] is (with the lone exception of [Rachel Maddow]) the most brilliant, humane person I’ve encountered in broadcasting,” he said. “His mind works faster than anyone else’s at a level of sophistication that is unmatchable. Genuinely a generational talent.”
Journalist and former CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric took to Colbert’s Instagram post to ask for more details. “I am so upset about this. I need more information. We love you,” she wrote to Colbert.
Even some non-human personalities threw their support into the mix. Game show Jeopardy! wrote Colbert an answer in its usual style: (“This satirist’s ‘Nation’ doesn’t mind staying up for ‘The Late Show’”), while Merriam-Webster shared its definition for the word “heartbroken.”
The list of celebs who have weighed in also includes Colbert’s peers in late-night, including—we’ve reported—Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, and Seth Meyers .
“I think it’s a sad day for late-night television. I think it’s a sad day for CBS,” Watch What Happens Live host Andy told Deadline. “I think Stephen Colbert is a singular talent. He is going to have an incredible next chapter. can’t believe CBS is turning out the lights at 11:30 after the local news… I’m stunned. He was one of three late-night shows deemed worthy enough for an Emmy nomination. He produces a brilliant show.”
Former late-night host Chris Gethard weighed in with an Instagram tribute of his own. “The Late Night cancellation is what ‘cancel culture’ really looks like. Corporations silencing artists who dare to question their motives and putting 200 employees out of work while doing so,” Gethard said, going on to thank Colbert for supporting him as a young comic and “for speaking truth to power. I hope every artist lives by the example you set in sacrificing so much to say honest sh*t.”
Longtime late-night sidekick Andy Richter, himself an alum of NBC’s 11:30 time slot, shared his own words of sympathy for Colbert on Bluesky. “Stephen Colbert is a profoundly good and deeply talented man with a great staff and an excellent show. They all deserve better.”, he wrote.
Richter also included a screenshot of a text message conversation he had with an unidentified person. “Colbert is canceled. Last show will be in May, ‘purely a financial decision’ is what network said,” Richter told them.
“Trump,” replied the other person. “Mother f*cker.”
Mark Hamill on BlueSky:
Mark Hamill. @markhamillofficial.bsky.social
Dear @stephencolbert.bsky.social
Thanks for all the years of speaking truth to power & finding the funny in fascism.
Looking forward to following you wherever you land,
Your fan, Mar🐫
I wonder what David Letterman has to say about CBS canceling the franchise he started. I’m sure he probably doesn’t give a rat’s ass about The Late Show anymore, but it’d be interesting to hear what he has to say about this whole fiasco.
You notice all the boo hoo’s for Colbert. Entertainers all who all live in their little villages together and all think the same way like Trump is bad and Republicans are stupid etc. etc. The truth has come out about all the nonsensical things done to assassinate Trump, figuratively, and they lose. The entertainment industry is one which stands together no matter what so no surprise at all the hand wringing. Who’s next? We’ll just have to wait and see. Networks are tired of losing large sums of money with these Late Night programs. Other shoes will drop.
The fact that you don’t see what’s really going on here speaks volumes. This is not about anything other than Drumpf silencing him through bribery. Follow the money. You may not care about that, but freedom of speech is one of those constitutional rights that are going away. I, for one, prefer to live in a democracy.
This is just revenge wrapped in a diversion from the Epstein cover up.
Indeed, you should take your own advice and “follow the money”. Ad revenue from late night shows have been cut in half over the past few years. This is just the continuation of trimming the fat off these companies.
Its really hilarious seeing people like you freak out over a cancelled show. Y’all talk about how dumb Trump is, he cant do this…..he cant do that…..yet even being as dumb as you say he is, he’s able to mastermind all sorts of sneaky stuff that has you panicking. I laugh when I read comments like yours from people who attribute EVERYTHING to Trump. Its not even a joke anymore, he’s definitely living in your head and you dont know how to kick him out.
the only time they silence the voices heard by the most people is when fascism is taking hold on a country. this country is built on freedoms and rights. That means that just because something upsets one political side doesn’t mean they should be silenced. the Democrats have not tried to silence Fox news hosts although some of them have messed up their careers all on their own. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was a top rated show. If you and your Republican or MAGA friends want to live in an autocracy with a dictator there are countries you can move to that have them but in this country we have a right to free speech, peaceful protest, a right to due process and a right to bear arms among others.
Honest question: Do you know you live in a bubble of nonstop liberal confirmation bias? The fact that you immediately attribute the show being canceled to Trump is wild to begin with.
But more importantly, the Biden admin was actively pressuring all the social media companies to silence and/or shadow ban many conservative voices. And when Matt Tiabbi and Barry Weiss began sorting thru the documents and releasing it to the public, all the biggest left leaning news outlets ignored it. Try consuming some news that doesnt confirm your biases. Even if it makes you mad and you dont agree or believe it, at least you will have knowledge of whats actually happening in the country. And lets not forget how the Biden admin pressured news & social media to squash the Hunter Biden laptop story (which turned out to be real).
Theres no evidence that Trump has silenced Colbert or anyone. But theres a whole bunch of evidence showing that the Biden admin was heavily involved in silencing voices! Were you crying “fascism” back then? Do you even know what fascism is or are you just regurgitating the nonsense that you read online>
Jason, I agree that the media siloing us is a huge problem. What news sources do you use to find the non-biased coverage you’re talking about?