David Letterman Blasts CBS: 'Pure Cowardice' in Stephen Colbert's Late Show Exit

The Epic Battle Between David Letterman, Stephen Colbert, and Donald Trump: A Tale of Power, Politics, and Cancel Culture

In a shocking turn of events, David Letterman has come out swinging against CBS, accusing them of canceling his protégé's show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, due to the network's fear of controversy. The 78-year-old late-night legend claimed that CBS was intimidated by Colbert's sharp tongue and fearless criticism of Donald Trump, saying, "They were always shooting their mouth off about me, and now they're going to shoot it off about him."

The drama began when CBS announced the cancellation of The Late Show in May 2026, citing financial losses of $40-100 million per year. However, Letterman suspects that there's more to the story than meets the eye. He believes that the real reason behind Colbert's ouster is the network's fear of alienating Trump and his supporters.

"I think one day, if not today, the people at CBS who have manipulated and handled this will be embarrassed," Letterman said in a scathing interview with former Late Show producers Barbara Gaines and Mary Barclay. "This is gutless. They're afraid of Stephen, and they're afraid of what he might say about Trump."

Letterman's allegations are not unfounded. The network has faced intense scrutiny for its handling of Colbert's show, particularly after a $16 million settlement with the Trump administration over a deceptively edited interview with Kamala Harris. Colbert had previously mocked the deal as a "big fat bribe," and Letterman is convinced that this was the final straw.

"Hey boys, here's what we're going to do: not only are we gonna get rid of that guy, we're gonna get rid of the entire franchise so you don't have to worry about another guy. It's gone," Letterman said, his voice dripping with disdain.

But CBS isn't just trying to appease Trump; they're also trying to make a deal with Skydance CEO and incoming Paramount CEO David Ellison. According to sources close to the network, Ellison has been secretly working behind the scenes to acquire Paramount and eliminate Colbert's show as part of the deal.

"Stay out of this business," Letterman warned his former colleagues at CBS. "You're telling me losing this kind of money happened yesterday? I bet they were losing this kind of money a month ago, six weeks ago, or they have never been losing money."

Letterman also took aim at Ellison, calling him a "bottom feeder" and suggesting that he should've bought a Dairy Queen instead of a television network.

Colbert, for his part, has been characteristically witty about the whole ordeal. In a defiant monologue on Monday's show, he joked, "Cancel culture has gone too far... but I'm glad to be a martyr now. If you listen carefully, you can hear them unfolding chairs at the Hall of Fame for my induction."

The Late Show host also took aim at Trump, saying, "I don't care for him. Doesn't seem to have the skill set to be president. Just not a good fit, that's all." The dry, sarcastic tone was a far cry from Colbert's usual bombastic style, and it marked a turning point in his tenure on The Late Show.

Colbert also addressed his bosses at CBS, saying, "I could see us losing $24 million, but where would Paramount have possibly spent the other $16 million? Oh..." He then quipped about the amount the company settled with Trump for over his 60 Minutes lawsuit, implying that the deal was a thinly veiled attempt to silence Colbert.

As for Trump's reaction to the news, he took to Truth Social to celebrate Colbert's ouster. "I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings," he wrote. He also took a shot at Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon, saying they have even less talent than Colbert.

The drama surrounding The Late Show's cancellation is just the tip of the iceberg in the world of late-night television. With streaming services on the rise and viewers shunning traditional TV, the format has become increasingly unprofitable. Even the big three late-night hosts – Colbert, Kimmel, and Fallon – have seen their ratings decline in recent years.

But don't expect Letterman to go quietly into the night. He's still got a few choice words for CBS and Ellison: "They did not handle Stephen Colbert, the face of that network, in the way he deserves to be handled."

As the dust settles on The Late Show's cancellation, one thing is clear: this is just the beginning of a long and messy battle between power, politics, and cancel culture. Stay tuned for more drama and intrigue – it's going to be a wild ride.

Sources:

• Letterman, D. (Interview with Barbara Gaines and Mary Barclay) (2023)
• Belloni, M. (Puck journalist) (2023)
• CNN (2023)
• The Scholarly Note (thescholarlynote.com)