Jon Stewart Unleashes on CBS’s Decision to Cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Declaring “You Are F—ing Wrong”

22 July 2025

Jon Stewart sings on July 21 episode of 'The Daily Show'. Credit: Comedy Central

On July 21, 2025, Jon Stewart returned to The Daily Show with a fiery monologue sharply criticizing CBS’s recent decision to end The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in May 2026. He made it clear he believed the choice was driven not by fiscal necessity, as CBS claimed, but by political self-censorship and corporate cowardice linked to the network’s parent company, Paramount Global, and its pending $8 billion merger with Skydance.

Stewart acknowledged the high-stakes financial backdrop, admitting, “I understand the corporate fear with $8 billion at stake.” He warned, however, that it would be a grave mistake for networks to blame ratings or profits. After all, programs like Colbert’s Late Show, which have been cultural staples and major draws for viewers, played a key role in building that value. Those who built the network, he argued, are now being tossed aside in pursuit of profit or worse, to avoid angering former President Trump.

During his scathing critique, Stewart blasted what he described as Paramount’s strategy to serve up “gruel so flavorless” to stay off the incoming administration’s radar. He declared emphatically, “You are f—ing wrong,” mocking the idea that bland, “failure-proof” content would satisfy insidious political forces. He lambasted this tactic as a cowardly act of “pre‑compliance,” where broadcasting executives bend to political pressure before demands are explicitly made.

A central element in the controversy surrounds Paramount’s $16 million settlement with Trump over an edited “60 Minutes” interview. Colbert had publicly decried it as a bribe, and Stewart argued the cancellation came just days after that critique suggesting Reuters’ cover story of a “purely financial” decision was implausible.

The industry’s heavy hitters Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, John Oliver rallied behind Stewart and Colbert, joining in on the criticism that the decision not only wipes out a top-rating show but also undermines the integrity of late-night television. Senator Elizabeth Warren even jumped into the discussion, questioning the timing of the cancellation and demanding transparency about whether politics played a role.

Colbert himself acted quickly, vowing to use his remaining episodes to speak freely and without restraint. He warned that “the gloves are off,” calling the network’s decision both shocking and unfathomable especially since The Late Show had dominated its time slot for nine straight seasons. As critics including Dan Rather have noted, Paramount’s growing concessions appear strategically linked to political expediency at the expense of press.

This episode marks a pivotal moment for media. It spotlights how deep-pocketed conglomerates may trade vocal editorial voices for business advantages under political pressure. Stewart’s on-screen fury, his closing anthem spiked with expletives, was more than entertainment it was a protest rally within a TV studio, declaring, “I’m not giving in”

As of now, CBS maintains that the decision was financial, citing the decline in late-night ad revenue and the need to “retire the franchise” in a shifting broadcast ecosystem. But Stewart’s rebuke, along with Colbert’s own defiant stance, leaves many asking whether journalism’s watchdogs are willing to fight or surrender to pressure from higher-ups and political influence.

This moment crystallizes a broader crisis: legacy media scrambling for relevance amid streaming, digital fragmentation and political interference. Stewart’s fiery challenge was not just a defense of Colbert it was a call to arms for satire, news, and culture to stand resolutely in defense of independent voices even at the price of corporate comfort.