NEW YORK, USA — Jon Stewart launched a scathing critique of CBS and its parent company, Paramount Global, on Monday night’s episode of The Daily Show, accusing the media giant of cowardice and capitulating to political pressure in cancelling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
The cancellation, which CBS described as a “purely financial decision,” has stirred backlash from across the entertainment industry and fuelled speculation that Colbert’s sharp criticism of President Donald Trump may have contributed to the show’s demise.
Stewart’s fiery on-air response questioned the network’s motives amid Paramount’s pending $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, a deal still awaiting federal approval.
“Shows that say something, shows that take a stand, shows that are unafraid — this is not a ‘We speak truth to power.’ We don’t,” Stewart said.
“We speak opinions to television cameras. But we try. We f—— try, every night.
“And if you believe, as corporations or as networks, you can make yourself so innocuous that you can serve a gruel so flavourless that you will never again be on the boy king’s radar — a.) why will anyone watch you? And you are f——- wrong.”
The segment, aired uncensored on Comedy Central, ended with Stewart leading a gospel-style choir in an expletive-laden call to action, urging institutions to “sack the f— up” or “go f— yourself.”
Moments later, Colbert addressed the controversy on The Late Show, directing his own pointed message to Trump, who had celebrated the programme’s cancellation.
“Go f— yourself,” Colbert said.
The president, who has long had a fraught relationship with late-night television hosts, had taken to Truth Social earlier on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 to mock Colbert’s departure and predict further exits.
“Jimmy Kimmel is NEXT to go in the untalented Late Night Sweepstakes and, shortly thereafter, Fallon will be gone,” Trump wrote.
“These are people with absolutely NO TALENT, who were paid Millions of Dollars for, in all cases, destroying what used to be GREAT Television.”
He added: “It’s really good to see them go, and I hope I played a major part in it!”
CBS announced Colbert’s departure last week, citing financial constraints. However, the timing of the decision — coinciding with regulatory scrutiny over the Paramount-Skydance merger — has raised concerns that political considerations may be playing a role.
Skydance CEO David Ellison met with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr earlier this month and pledged to promote “diverse viewpoints” across Paramount’s platforms.
Trump, whose administration is overseeing the regulatory review, has expressed support for the deal.
Skydance is backed by Ellison’s father, Oracle founder and Trump ally Larry Ellison.
Adding to the tension, Paramount recently settled a lawsuit filed by Trump over a 60 Minutes interview with then-candidate Kamala Harris during the 2024 election.
The $16 million settlement, announced earlier this month, was reportedly favoured by Paramount chair Shari Redstone in order to clear merger obstacles.
The move drew internal backlash.
In April, 60 Minutes editor Bill Owens resigned, citing concerns over editorial independence. CBS News President Wendy McMahon followed in May.
Correspondent Scott Pelley had called the proposed settlement “very damaging.”
On Monday’s Late Show, Colbert called the payment a “big fat bribe” and pledged to speak even more boldly during his final months on air.
“They left me alive,” Colbert said. “And now for the next 10 months, the gloves are off.”
He enlisted Weird Al Yankovic and Lin-Manuel Miranda for a Coldplay parody to lift the audience’s mood.
A satirical “kiss cam” segment showed fellow late-night hosts, news anchors, and a cartoon version of Trump embracing a Paramount logo — a reference to a recent viral video involving a tech CEO.
Stewart and Colbert’s professional ties date back to 1997, when Colbert joined The Daily Show.
His subsequent success with The Colbert Report and later The Late Show cemented his status as a pillar of political comedy.
Stewart praised his longtime colleague, saying Colbert had “exceed[ed] all expectations” in becoming the most-watched host in late-night network television.
“Watching Stephen exceed all expectations in the role and become the No. 1 late-night show on network television has been an undeniable great pleasure for me — as a viewer and as his friend,” Stewart said.
He also acknowledged the challenges facing the genre: “We’re all basically operating a Blockbuster kiosk inside of a Tower Records,” he quipped.
Still, Stewart pushed back on the idea that entertainment formats like late-night talk shows should be discarded because of economic shifts.
“When CDs stopped selling, they didn’t just go, ‘Oh, well, music, it’s been a good run,’” he said.
Stewart concluded with a message of defiance: “This is not the moment to give in. I’m not giving in. I’m not going anywhere — I think.”
Jon Stewart reacts to CBS cancelling “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and tells corporations and advertisers to “sack up” pic.twitter.com/v8MrNpg28w
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) July 22, 2025
