In a candid New Year's Eve interview, television host Stephen Colbert delivered a sharp rebuke to the corporate executives who cancelled his long-running program, offering a pointed piece of advice for 2025.
A Blunt New Year's Lesson
Appearing on CNN's broadcast with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen, Colbert was asked about the major lesson he learned in the past year. His response was unequivocal. "Don't trust billionaires," Colbert stated. He elaborated, "They don't get rich by finding that money on the side of the road, brother." This commentary comes directly in the wake of the announced end of his CBS program, "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."
The network confirmed the show's cancellation last summer, stating it would air its final episode in May of this year. CBS executives labelled the move "purely a financial decision," claiming the program—which consistently ranked number one in its late-night time slot—was losing approximately $40 million annually. This figure has been met with widespread skepticism from industry observers.
Corporate Claims and Political Pressure
Fellow late-night host Jimmy Kimmel was among those publicly doubting CBS's explanation, calling the corporate statements about Colbert's show "obviously lies." Many analysts and media watchers have suggested that political pressure played a significant, if unstated, role in the decision.
The cancellation unfolded as Paramount Global, CBS's corporate parent, was seeking regulatory approval for a major merger with Skydance Media. This period also saw former President Donald Trump repeatedly attack Colbert on social media and publicly call for the show to be taken off the air. The FCC-approved merger was finalized the week after the cancellation announcement, placing David Ellison, son of billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, at the helm of the new combined entity. Larry Ellison was a reported key financial backer of the deal.
Colbert's Unfiltered Response
Since the cancellation, Colbert has not been silent. He has continued to critique his former corporate bosses with his signature wit. Last month, when Paramount made a staggering $108 billion bid for a hostile takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, Colbert seized the moment.
"Wow. I gotta say, if my company's got that kind of green, I'm sure they can afford to uncancel one of their best shows," he cracked. This remark underscores the ongoing tension between the popular host and the corporate leadership that ended his show, despite its strong ratings performance.
The full interview, where Colbert's billionaire comments occur roughly four minutes in, highlights a prominent entertainer's direct challenge to the financial and political forces shaping modern media. The situation raises significant questions about corporate transparency, political influence on entertainment, and the future of network television in an era of consolidation.
