Charlamagne Blasts CBS Decision to Cancel Colbert’s Show: ‘A Free Speech Funeral’

The Breakfast Club‘s Charlamagne the God blasted CBS’s decision to cancel ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert‘, calling the move “textbook authoritarian strategy” and a “free speech funeral”.

“Canceling Colbert is an obvious move to appease Donald Trump,” he said on The Breakfast Club Friday, referring to Paramount’s upcoming $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media, which will require approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in order to move forward.

Colbert announced Thursday night that next year will be the show’s last season. The news comes just days after the longtime late-night host criticized Paramount’s recent $16 million legal settlement with Trump over a 2024 “60 Minutes” interview with then-presidential candidate Kamala Harris, calling it a “big fat bribe”.

“This is textbook authoritarian rule. This is intimidation tactics disguised as legitimate legal actions. Paramount and CBS should be ashamed of themselves,” said Charlamagne.

“Make America North Korea. Make America China. Make America Russia. That’s where we are if we live in a country where there is strategic silence within corporate media structures to limit dissent.”

“This is purely a financial decision,” said CBS in a statement. “It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”

Watch the clip above.