Late evening legend David Letterman is as soon as once more coming to the protection of Stephen Colbert, whose “Late Present” is ending later this month after CBS introduced in July 2025 that the historic program was ending for good. Though the community maintains the transfer was a “monetary determination,” Letterman instructed the New York Instances he doesn’t settle for that rationale.
“He received dumped as a result of the individuals who had been promoting the community to Skydance stated, ‘Oh no, there will not be any issues with this man. We’ll deal with the present. We’ll simply add that into the deal. When is the ink on the test going to dry?'” Letterman instructed New York Instances reporter Jason Zinoman. “I am simply going to go on the report: They’re mendacity. Let me simply add yet another factor, Jason. They’re mendacity weasels.”
When CBS introduced that Colbert could be taken off the air, Paramount, CBS’ guardian firm, was within the means of being acquired by David Ellison’s Skydance. On the time, the deal was awaiting last approval from the FCC and, by proxy, President Donald Trump, a vocal foe of Colbert and the late-night style. The timing of the cancellation led some, like Letterman, to invest that Paramount and CBS canceled “The Late Present” to appease the Trump administration and make sure the Skydance merger would face authorized evaluation.
Letterman joined “The Late Present” as host in 1993 and stepped apart to let Colbert take his place in 2015.
This is not the primary time Letterman has spoken out in assist of his successor. Shortly after information broke that “The Late Present” was being canceled, Letterman stated in an interview posted on his YouTube channel that he thought the choice was “pure cowardice.”
“They didn’t do the correct factor,” he added. “They haven’t handled Stephen Colbert – the face of this community – the best way he deserves to be handled.”