Stephen Colbert is not going quietly. Just days after CBS confirmed The Late Show was being cancelled, the long-time host opened his monologue with a jab that set the tone, “Cancel culture has gone too far.” What followed was a masterclass in satire and defiance, delivered with Colbert's signature blend of sarcasm and straight-faced comedy.
The timing of the cancellation has raised eyebrows, especially considering Colbert’s recent criticism of CBS' parent company, Paramount. The host accused the network of paying what he called a big fat bribe to President Donald Trump. Not long after, CBS pulled the plug on his show, a move that Colbert clearly sees as more than coincidence.
But the drama did not stop there. Trump, ever active on his social platform Truth Social, celebrated the news, mocking Colbert by claiming “his talent was even less than his ratings.” Colbert, unfazed, turned his response into a punchline, “How dare you, sir? Would an untalented man be able to compose the following satirical witticism”? He then turned to the camera, locked eyes with viewers, and delivered a crisp and cutting “Go **** yourself.”
Colbert’s blunt send-off has split audiences, some calling it his most honest moment yet, others criticising the tone. Still, it is classic Colbert: confrontational, performative, and unflinching. As industry peers like Jon Stewart and Jimmy Fallon publicly weighed in, social media erupted. #IStandWithColbert began trending, with fans flooding X (formerly Twitter) to share their support, memes, and outrage at CBS.
Meanwhile, Colbert’s own accounts have leaned into the controversy, reposting fan reactions and behind-the-scenes clips of his final tapings. If this is his farewell tour, he is making sure it is unforgettable, and with spectacle.
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