Writers Guild Calls on Letitia James to Investigate CBS Cancellation of Late Show With Stephen Colbert Over Alleged “Bribe” to “Curry Favor” With Trump
The Writers Guild of America is urging Trump nemesis New York State Attorney General Letitia James to investigate CBS owner Paramount over the cancellation of the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The Guild accuses Paramount of bribery by firing Colbert to “curry favor” with the Trump administration as it seeks approval for a merger with Skydance.
CBS announced this week Colbert would not be renewed after next season after a ten year run on the network. Reports state CBS was losing $40 million a year on the show. Estimates of Colbert’s salary put it in the range of $10 to $20 million per year.
Paramount recently agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit by President Donald Trump over deceptive editing of a 60 Minutes interview with then Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign.
Text of the Guild’s statement:
The following is a statement from the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) and Writers Guild of America West (WGAW):
On July 2nd, Paramount agreed to settle a baseless lawsuit brought against 60 Minutes and CBS News by President Trump for $16 million. On July 15, during a regular show of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Colbert went on-air and called the settlement a “big fat bribe” in exchange for a favorable decision on the proposed merger between Paramount and Skydance, a charge currently under investigation in California.
Less than 48 hours later, on July 17, Paramount cancelled The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, a show currently performing first in its timeslot, giving vague references to the program’s “financial performance” as the only explanation. For ten years, the show has been one of the most successful, beloved and profitable programs on CBS, entertaining an audience of millions on late night television, on streaming services and across social media.