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Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, TV And Film
Rhianna Benson
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, TV And Film
After Paramount bosses last night confirmed that Stephen Colbert's top-rated Late Show had been axed, a number of spectators found the timing suspicious.
Just days prior, Colbert had called Paramount's decision to pay President Trump $16 million (£12m) over claims they edited a debate to favour Democrat candidate Kamala Harris a 'big fat bribe'.
And in a savage new statement released by the president today in response to the shocking news, Trump revealed he's glad to see Colbert go.
For those out of the loop with Hollywood's latest bombshell, in a joint message conveyed on Thursday (17 July) by both Paramount and CBS leaders, it was claimed that the show's termination was purely a 'financial decision'.
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Confirming Colbert's long-standing talk-show - which has hosted some of the biggest names in entertainment - would come to an end next year, the companies said: "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert will end its historic run in May 2026 at the end of the broadcast season.
"We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire The Late Show franchise at that time."
Paramount co-CEO George Cheeks, CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach and CBS Studios president David Stapf all signed the notice, which concluded: "We are proud that Stephen called CBS home.
"He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late night television."
It added: "This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount."
Taking to Truth Social following the news, the 79-year-old Republican wrote a brutal response: "I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings.
"I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert!"
Trump continued: "Greg Gutfeld is better than all of them combined, including the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show."
Gutfeld, for anyone not aware, is a Fox News anchor recently hit with backlash for a monologue about how right-wingers should reclaim the word 'Nazi'.
A number of onlookers have been left confused by Colbert getting the axe.
According to The Independent, The Late Show averages an impression 2.4 million total viewers on a nightly basis.
As such, many have pointed the finger at the recent payout to Trump, which comes at a time when Paramount is seeking federal approval for an $8.4 million merger with media giant Skydance.
Democrat senator Elizabeth Warren wrote on X: "CBS canceled Colbert’s show just THREE DAYS after Colbert called out CBS parent company Paramount for its $16M settlement with Trump – a deal that looks like bribery.
"America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons."
Tyla has contacted Paramount for a comment.