Stephen Colbert receives support from late night hosts after show cancellation sparks political backlash

Stephen Colbert reunites with Fallon, Stewart, Meyers, and Oliver as fans and industry react to show’s cancellation.

Stephen Colbert was joined by several fellow late night hosts on Monday’s The Late Show episode, marking his first appearance since announcing the show’s upcoming cancellation.Colbert welcomed surprise visits from Jimmy Fallon (The Tonight Show), Jon Stewart (The Daily Show), Seth Meyers (Late Night), and John Oliver (Last Week Tonight), showcasing late night solidarity in a time of upheaval.

Stephen Colbert just showing CBS/Paramount what a huge mistake they’re making (ratings and $ wise).

Had Lin-Manuel Miranda and Weird Al playing Coldplay to an audience of: Anderson Cooper, Andy Cohen, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon, Jon Stewart, Adam Sandler and more… pic.twitter.com/4PGK4350OU

— Nadine Babu (@NadineBabu) July 22, 2025

The episode featured a satirical musical segment, parodying a recent viral Coldplay concert moment. Colbert enlisted “Weird Al” Yankovic and Lin-Manuel Miranda to perform Viva La Vida as the camera panned to various celebrity cameos, including CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Bravo’s Andy Cohen, and actors Adam Sandler and Christopher McDonald. The sketch ended abruptly after the camera landed on a cartoon of Donald Trump discarding the Paramount logo, prompting Colbert to joke: “Your song has been cancelled.”

Following the comedic sketch, Colbert shifted to a more pointed tone during his monologue, responding directly to Trump’s reaction to the show’s cancellation. Turning to the camera, he bluntly stated: “Go f–k yourself.” He also dismissed Trump’s prediction that Jimmy Kimmel would be next, adding, “There’s only room for one on this cross, and the view is fantastic from up here.”

CBS previously stated the decision to cancel The Late Show was financially motivated and unrelated to content or performance. However, industry insiders speculate that Colbert’s outspoken criticism of Trump may have played a role. The announcement follows CBS parent company Paramount’s $16 million settlement with Trump and its pending merger with Skydance Media.

Colbert confirmed that The Late Show will officially conclude in May 2026, marking the end of his run after more than a decade. The news drew strong reactions across the entertainment industry, with late night hosts including Kimmel, Fallon, Meyers, and Oliver expressing their support and admiration for Colbert and his legacy in political comedy.