A powerful Hollywood group has called for a sweeping investigation into Paramount Global following the abrupt cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
The Writers Guild of America wants New York Attorney General Letitia James to launch a probe into whether the cancellation is related to Colbert’s criticism of the network’s capitulation to President Trump.
In a fiery joint statement from the the East and West Coast arms of the Writers Guild, the union suggests the scrapping of the show may amount to political bribery.
The guild alleges Paramount’s decision to axe the show after Colbert accused the company of bribing Donald Trump to advance its proposed $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media was not merely coincidence, but potentially ‘a dangerous capitulation to political pressure.’
‘Cancelations are part of the business,’ the WGA said, ‘but a corporation terminating a show in bad faith due to explicit or implicit political pressure is dangerous and unacceptable in a democratic society.’
The union’s statement referenced the $16 million settlement Paramount reached earlier this month with Trump over a contentious 60 Minutes segment involving Kamala Harris during the 2024 election.
The agreement was widely derided by media watchdogs as a dubious payoff and has already prompted an ongoing investigation by the California State Senate.
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren has also demanded a federal probe into whether the settlement constituted an illegal attempt to curry favor with the White House.
The cancellation came just two days after Colbert slammed the settlement live on air, calling it ‘a big fat bribe’ and openly questioning whether the payment was made to grease the wheels for the merger’s approval.
The powerful Writers Guild of America has called on New York Attorney General Letitia James to launch a sweeping investigation into Paramount Global following the abrupt cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
In a fiery joint statement from the the East and West Coast arms of the Writers Guild, the union suggests the scrapping of the show may amount to political bribery
WGA leaders argue that segment may have cost Colbert his job.
‘Given Paramount’s recent capitulation to President Trump,’ the union wrote, ‘we have significant concerns that The Late Show’s cancelation is a bribe, sacrificing free speech to curry favor with the Trump Administration.’
The guild called on ‘elected leaders to hold those responsible to account’ and vowed to pursue every possible legal and political remedy to support its members and protect media freedom.
Paramount executives deny any political motive. In a joint statement, co-CEO George Cheeks, CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach, and CBS Studios president David Stapf insisted the decision was based purely on declining revenues and shifting industry dynamics.
‘This was a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night,’ they said. ‘It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.’
But critics aren’t buying it.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders fired off a blistering statement on X: ‘Stephen Colbert, an extraordinary talent and the most popular late-night host, slams the deal. Days later, he’s fired. Do I think this is a coincidence? NO.’
Senator Ed Markey went further, suggesting possible political interference: ‘If the Trump administration is using its regulatory authority to influence or otherwise pressure your company’s editorial decisions, the public deserves to know.’
Trump wasted no time celebrating the move on his Truth Social account
Trump celebrated the cancelling of Colbert’s long running chat show
Trump suggested ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel, right, would be the next act on the chopping block
Trump wasted no time celebrating the move on his Truth Social account gleefully writing, ‘I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Greg Gutfeld is better than all of them combined, including the Moron on NBC who ruined the once-great.’
The post prompted a visceral response from Colbert’s fellow hosts. Kimmel posted to Instagram: ‘Love you Stephen. F**k you and all your Sheldons CBS.’
The timing of Colbert’s cancellation has only deepened suspicions.
On July 2, Paramount agreed to settle Trump’s lawsuit. On July 15, Colbert railed against it on national television. On July 17, Paramount pulled the plug on the show despite it still being the top-rated program in its timeslot, beating both Fallon and Kimmel in linear and digital viewership.
Indeed, while CBS cited financial strain, the numbers have painted a more complicated picture.
Advertising revenue for The Late Show has dropped 40% since 2018 from $121.1 million to $70.2 million last year, according to ad firm Guideline.
But the show still drew a nightly average of 1.9 million viewers this past season, more than any other late-night rival with Colbert has maintaining a massive digital following on YouTube and TikTok.
A demonstrator holds a sign in support of Stephen Colbert outside the Ed Sullivan Theater
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end in May 2026, the CBS network said on Thursday
A woman involved with anti-Trump activism, writes a message in chalk outside of the Ed Sullivan Theater, where the ‘Late Show” is recorded live, in midtown Manhattan
Flowers and a note of support for Stephen Colbert are left outside the Ed Sullivan Theater
But CBS insists the business no longer adds up.
One former TV network executive said The Late Show had been hemorrhaging money and losing up to $40 million annually because of shrinking ad dollars and rising production costs.
‘Fifteen years ago, a show like The Tonight Show could earn $100 million a year,’ they said. ‘Now, they’re money pits.’
CBS had already begun gutting its late-night schedule. The Late Late Show with James Corden was scrapped in 2023. After Midnight was canceled earlier this year.
Colbert will end in May of next year with CBS planned to fill the Late Show slot with reruns of the primetime hit Tracker.
ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel has a contract that also runs out next year. Kimmel, 57, openly wondered in a Variety interview before signing his latest three-year contract extension how long he wanted to do it. He’s hosted his show since 2003.
“I have moments where I go, I cannot do this anymore,” Kimmel told Variety in 2022. “And I have moments where I go, what am I gonna do with my life if I’m not doing this anymore?’ It’s a very complicated thing … I’m not going to do this forever.”
Colbert, Kimmel and Stewart were all nominated for Emmy awards this week.
Colbert’s cancellation is the latest flashpoint in what critics call a mounting war against media critical of Trump.
The president has long sparred with journalists and entertainers, launching lawsuits against The New York Times, CNN, 60 Minutes, and ABC News.
Earlier this week, his administration slashed funding for public broadcasters NPR and PBS and has openly mused about pulling licenses from outlets he considers ‘fake news.’
