The View’s Sunny Hostin called Stephen Colbert’s CBS firing a sign of ‘the dismantling of our democracy’ as the White House continued to feud with ABC’s liberal gabfest.
The comedian’s decade-long run as the host of CBS’ late night flagship will end next May, with network insiders suggesting the top-rated show was canceled because it was losing anywhere from $40 to $100million per year.
While Hostin acknowledged it ‘could be financial,’ she sees the late night comedy show host’s exit as a threat to America, citing speculation that the firing could have been a political move.
‘If it is political, then everyone be concerned, people on the right should be concerned, people on the left should be concerned, because if it is political, this is the dismantling of our democracy, the dismantling of our Constitution.’
She suggested Colbert – whose show airs on a privately-owned network – was losing his First Amendment right to free speech.
‘The First Amendment is the First Amendment for a reason, that is freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to speak truth to power. If that is taken away, if the comedians are being attacked, it means the Constitution is being dismantled,’ she claimed.
Her comments come the same day a White House spokesperson called for the long-running political talk show to be ‘pulled off the air.’
The ladies, including moderator Joy Behar, were reacting to Donald Trump accusing Barack Obama of ‘treason’ and saying the Justice Department should probe his rival over the Russia ‘hoax.’
The View’s Sunny Hostin (pictured) called Stephen Colbert ‘s CBS firing a sign of ‘the dismantling of our democracy’ as the White House continued to feud with ABC’s liberal gabfest
The comedian’s decade-long run as the host of CBS’ late night flagship will end next May , with network insiders suggesting the top-rated show was canceled because it was losing anywhere from $40 to $100million per year
‘First of all, who tried to overthrow the government on Jan. 6. Who was that again? That was not Obama,’ Behar said.
‘The thing about him is he’s so jealous of Obama, because Obama is everything that he is not: Trim, smart, handsome, happily married, and can sing Al Green’s song ‘Let’s Stay Together’ better than Al Green. And Trump cannot stand it. It’s driving him crazy.’
White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers responded in a statement to Entertainment Weekly accusing Behar of having ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ before suggesting they have ‘hit the lowest ratings’ in years and could suffer the same fate as Colbert.
‘She should self-reflect on her own jealousy of President Trump’s historic popularity before her show is the next to be pulled off air.’
A spokesperson for the show responded by saying the show ‘is ranking No. 1 in households and total viewers among all network daytime talk shows and news programs for the fifth straight season.’
The Colbert cancellation was announced just days after the 61-year-old comic called CBS’ parent company Paramount’s $16million settlement with Trump over deceptive editing of a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris a ‘big fat bribe.’
Trump posted a celebration on Truth Social Friday, saying ‘I absolutely love that Colbert’ got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings.’
The Late Show host referenced Trump’s comments on his return to the airwaves Monday, turning to an ‘Eloquence Cam’ and saying: ‘How dare you, sir? Would an untalented man be able to compose the following satirical witticism? Go f*** yourself.’
Her comments come the same day a White House spokesperson called for the long-running political talk show to be ‘pulled off the air’ after Joy Behar said Donald Trump (pictured) was envious of Barack Obama
The ladies, including moderator Joy Behar, were reacting to Donald Trump accusing Barack Obama of ‘treason’ and saying the Justice Department should probe his rival over the Russia ‘hoax’
Puck journalist Matthew Belloni revealed Colbert’s ‘lack of profitability’ Friday, hours after CNN first broke the news that the show was canceled because it was in the red.
Belloni outlined how The Late Show – whose cancelation was announced Thursday – costs $100m a year to produce, with Colbert, 61, getting paid between $15 million and $20 million a year to host.
Colbert beats ABC and NBC rivals Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon in the ratings, but that still wasn’t enough to save him.
Late night shows have slumped in profitability in recent years as viewers shun the format in favor of streaming services or watching content on their phones.
Advertiser revenue has slumped sharply even in the last three years, Puck reported, making it harder to pull Colbert’s show out of the red.
Colbert was reported to be ‘not angry, actually’ about his cancelation and was chatting with his staff in a ‘matter-of-fact’ way before Thursday’s show, Puck reported.
Colbert, who will broadcast his final show in May 2026, was first informed his show was on the chopping block around July 4, it is claimed. Paramount Co-CEO George Cheeks made the decision, Puck reported.
He the went on vacation, giving bosses at CBS time to plot behind his back, CNN reported.
In his first post-cancellation show, the comic turned to an ‘Eloquence Cam’ and said ‘Go f*** yourself’ to Trump in response to the president’s glee in his cancellation
Colbert had news of his cancelation confirmed Thursday.
He moved to share it as quickly as possible so that his staff would not learn of their impending unemployment via leaks to the press.
All three major late night hosts – Colbert, Kimmel and Fallon – have become notorious for their regular rants about President Trump, which many viewers have complained are boring and off-putting.
But Belloni said he didn’t believe the famously anti-MAGA Colbert was axed to appease Donald Trump, who recently won a $15 million payout from CBS after suing them over a 60 Minutes interview with Harris he said was deceptively edited.
The axing of Colbert has delighted Trump, who posted about it on his TruthSocial network earlier today.
Colbert’s ouster could also make it easier for CBS parent company Paramount’s efforts to merge with media company Skydance in a deal that must be approved by Trump’s Federal Communications Commission.
The Late Show launched in 1993 under David Letterman to compete with longtime late night juggernaut The Tonight Show.
Colbert took over from Letterman in 2015 after his retirement.
More than three decades later, CBS’s entry into the late night sphere sits at the top, with second-best Jimmy Kimmel Live! raking in an average of 1.772 million viewers.
Colbert, by comparison, collects an average of 2.417 million.
Colbert – who once played a conservative character on Comedy Central’s satirical late night program The Colbert Report – often aired jokes at the conservative’s expense.
Trump celebrated the news of the show’s cancellation as a result.
‘I absolutely love that Colbert’ got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings,’ he wrote in a Friday Truth Social post.
‘I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert,’ he added, before talking up right-wing Fox News star Greg Gutfeld.
‘[He’s] better than all of them combined, including the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show,’ Trump added, referring to Jimmy Fallon.
Trump previously worked for NBC during his days on ‘The Apprentice.’
