David Letterman on ‘gutless’ cancellation of Colbert's show: ‘Pure cowardice’
Comedian David Letterman on Friday joined the chorus of late-night hosts to bash CBS News after it announced it would sunset "The Late Show" after more than three decades on air, while praising host Stephen Colbert as a "martyr."
Letterman — the show's first host — alluded to the recent $16 million settlement between CBS's parent company Paramount Global and the Trump administration, and its expected merger with entertainment giant Skydance, when he called the decision to nix the program "gutless."
“I think one day, if not today, the people at CBS who have manipulated and handled this are going to be embarrassed because this is gutless,” he said during a recorded chat with his former "Late Show" producers Barbara Gaines and Mary Barclay. "I only wish this could happen to me. This would have been so great for me."
Paramount called the move "purely a financial decision" and not related to the show's performance or content. Letterman, like other press advocates and some Democrats, did not seem satisfied with that answer.
Instead, the "Late Show" veteran cast the blame on who he called the "Oracle twins," referring to billionaire Larry Ellison and his son David Ellison, who is set to lead the "New Paramount" after the Federal Communications Commission gave the greenlight for Skydance to acquire the company. The merger is expected to be completed by Aug. 7.
“There’s no fairness to these goons," Letterman said, adding "These guys are bottom feeders. That's exactly what this is."
"Of course, they know that broadcast television is withering, so now they want, just want to make sure on top of buying something that doesn't have the same value as it had 30 years ago. They don't want to be hassled by the United States government," he continued. "So, they want CBS to take care of all of that mess."
The comedian also blasted CBS's decision to settle with Trump after he sued "60 Minutes" over an interview with former Vice President Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign as "pure cowardice."
Top names in late-night television — such as Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Jon Stewart and Seth Meyers — have defended Colbert, who has openly raised concerns over Paramount's recent decisions. Letterman was no different.
"Now, for Stephen, I love this. He's a martyr. Good for him, right?" he told his former producers.
"Now we've all got to kiss Stephen Colbert's ring now," he quipped later. "And if you listen carefully, you can hear them unfolding chairs at the Hall of Fame for his induction, right?"
Colbert, who took the reins from Letterman in 2015, has gone back-and-forth with Trump in recent days.
“I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings," the president wrote in a post on Truth Social earlier this week after the company revealed it would end the show in May 2026.
The comedian replied, “How dare you, sir. Would an untalented man be able to compose the following satirical witticism: ‘Go f‑‑‑ yourself.’”