The cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has sparked a firestorm of speculation, especially given the timing: it came just three days after Colbert publicly criticized CBS's parent company, Paramount, for settling a defamation lawsuit with Donald Trump for $16 million.

CBS has recently announced the cancellation of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," with the final episode scheduled for May 2026, marking the end of a 33-year franchise that began with David Letterman in 1993.