Sitting across from Jimmy Kimmel himself Tuesday night, Stephen Colbert shared never-before-seen raw footage of the moment he learned Kimmel’s show had been indefinitely suspended.
As LateNighter reported at the time, Colbert was taping his show when the news broke on Wednesday September 17th. The show was in a commercial break when a staffer (turns out it was executive producer Tom Purcell) handed Colbert his phone.
The video matches what was described at the time: After reading the news, a stunned Colbert relays it to his audience, “Okay. Jimmy Kimmel’s show has been pulled indefinitely by ABC.” He then adds, ” Wow… Wow.”
According to those in attendance, the show took a break while Colbert left the stage to gather more information, thinking that he might record something about it for the show that night. He returned about five minutes later to tell the audience he had no clarity on the situation and that they would instead address it the next night. He then quickly wrapped the taping
Tuesday’s airing of Colbert’s reaction added new context to that mid-September night, transforming what had been secondhand reports into a vivid on-air moment—one made much more satisfying knowing that it was being watched by a reinstated Kimmel, back in his host’s chair.
Watch the clip as it aired on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Tuesday night below:
Guesting with Jimmy Kimmel Tuesday night, Stephen Colbert shared previously unaired footage of the moment he learned of Kimmel's suspension… while he was taping his own show. pic.twitter.com/Gbct9S4Ieu
— LateNighter (@latenightercom) October 1, 2025
