Stephen Colbert addresses speculation surrounding the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
The host suggested it is “fair” for people to connect CBS’ decision to a recent settlement in a lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump. However, the longtime host stopped short of affirming that belief himself, insisting that “my side of the street is clean.”
In a new GQ cover interview for the magazine’s 2025 Men of the Year issue, Colbert opened up to writer Zach Baron about the network’s decision to end The Late Show — its iteration and the entire long-running franchise — after its ten-year tenure.
“I’m the first number one show ever canceled,” he joked, noting that his show dominated the late-night ratings for nine consecutive years, consistently surpassing Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon.
The cancellation came shortly after CBS reportedly paid $16 million to settle a lawsuit Trump filed against the network and 60 Minutes. The deal raised eyebrows, especially amid the pending merger of Paramount Global and Skydance, which required approval from a Trump-appointed FCC chairman.
Around the same time, Colbert had joked on air that the “technical name in legal circles” was “fat bribe.” Not long after, he heard from his manager that the current season would be his last.
“My response as a show business professional is to say, that’s the network’s decision,” Colbert said GQ. “It goes without saying that this is damaging to the reputation of the network, the company and the news department, so it’s unclear to me why anyone would do that other than to curry favor with a single individual.”
CBS has officially stated that the decision was “purely financial,” citing a “challenging late night backdrop.” Colbert said he accepted that explanation but acknowledged the timing was surprising. “I’ve had a great relationship with CBS,” he said. “That’s why it was so shocking that there was no introduction to it.”
After the July announcement, speculation spread beyond online chatter, with Senators Elizabeth Warren and Adam Schiff publicly questioning whether politics played a role. However, Colbert claims that while others may theorize, he will not.
“People can have their theories,” he said. “You should show me why it’s a fruitful relationship for me to have with my network over the next nine months so I can participate in that speculation.”
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert ends in May 2026. The show recently won the Emmy Award for Best Talk Series, where Colbert received a standing ovation.
