The recent cancellation of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert by CBS has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, prompting a fiery response from Jon Stewart on The Daily Show. In a profanity-laced monologue on July 22, 2025, Stewart, a longtime friend and colleague of Colbert, didn’t hold back, lambasting CBS and its parent company, Paramount Global, for what he sees as a capitulation to political pressure from President Donald Trump. The decision to end Colbert’s top-rated late-night show, set to conclude in May 2026, has sparked widespread speculation about the motives behind it, especially given its timing and the broader context of Paramount’s business dealings.
Stewart, who worked with Colbert on The Daily Show from 1999 to 2005, began his monologue by reflecting on their shared history. He praised Colbert’s ability to exceed expectations, transforming The Late Show into the number one late-night program on network television since taking over from David Letterman in 2015. “Watching Stephen exceed all expectations in the role has been an undeniable great pleasure for me—as a viewer and as his friend,” Stewart said. Yet, his tone quickly shifted to outrage as he questioned CBS’s claim that the cancellation was “purely a financial decision.” He acknowledged the struggling financial model of late-night television, likening it to “operating a Blockbuster kiosk inside a Tower Records,” but argued that ending a three-decade-long franchise like The Late Show raised deeper questions.
The timing of the cancellation, announced just days after Colbert criticized Paramount for settling a $16 million lawsuit with Trump over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris, fueled suspicions of political motivations. Stewart suggested that CBS’s decision might be the “path of least resistance” to secure approval for Paramount’s proposed $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, which awaits clearance from Trump’s Federal Communications Commission. “I understand the corporate fear,” Stewart said. “But the shows you now seek to cancel, censor, and control—a not insignificant portion of that $8 billion value came from those f—ing shows.” His blunt delivery, peppered with expletives, underscored his frustration with what he called “fear and pre-compliance” gripping American institutions.
Stewart’s monologue took an even darker turn when he addressed a disturbing revelation: a reported birthday card from Trump to Jeffrey Epstein, uncovered by The Wall Street Journal. The card, allegedly sent for Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003, contained crude content that Stewart described as making him “throw up in my own mouth.” He used this to highlight Trump’s litigious response, noting that Trump is suing The Wall Street Journal and its owner, Rupert Murdoch, despite Murdoch’s Fox News being a staunch Trump supporter. “Fox spends 24 hours a day blowing Trump, and it’s not enough,” Stewart quipped, emphasizing the futility of appeasing a “fragile and vengeful president.”
The studio audience fell silent as Stewart delved into the Epstein connection, a stark contrast to the internet’s reaction. Social media platforms, particularly X, erupted with commentary, with users like @HLStockenstrom and @CapaTosta122 sharing clips of Stewart’s monologue, amplifying its reach. Posts on X reflected a mix of outrage and admiration, with some calling Stewart’s response “iconic” and others urging Colbert to join The Daily Show as a guest host. The online buzz underscored the public’s skepticism about CBS’s motives, with many echoing Stewart’s belief that the cancellation was less about finances and more about political appeasement.
Colbert, for his part, addressed the cancellation with a mix of humor and defiance. On his July 21 show, he announced that “the gloves are off” for the next ten months, vowing to speak “unvarnished truth” about Trump. He invited celebrity friends, including Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver, to a lighthearted “kiss cam” segment parodying a viral Coldplay concert incident. Yet, beneath the levity, Colbert’s pointed jab at Trump—“Go f— yourself”—mirrored Stewart’s sentiment. Both hosts, backed by a chorus of late-night peers, signaled a refusal to bow to pressure.
Stewart’s fiery defense culminated in a gospel choir-backed chant of “Go f— yourself” aimed at CBS and Paramount, a moment that resonated deeply with viewers. As he declared, “I’m not giving in. I’m not going anywhere—I think,” Stewart acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding The Daily Show’s future, given Paramount’s ownership. The internet continues to dissect the cancellation, with X users speculating about the broader implications for late-night television and free speech. For now, Stewart and Colbert remain defiant, their platforms a battleground for resisting what they see as corporate cowardice in the face of political intimidation.
