Following Complaints About Trump/Putin Joke, FCC Won’t Take Action Against Colbert

Earlier this month, late-night host Stephen Colbert caused all kinds of outrage — especially among the right — when he delivered an anti-Trump monologue that included a joke about the president’s mouth being Vladimir Putin’s “c*ckholster.”

Well, following the Late Show broadcast, the FCC received more than five thousand complaints with concerns over indecency and hate speech, among other objections. Today, the agency let it be known that no action will be taken against the host or the program.

In a statement obtained by Variety, the FCC noted that there was the joke didn’t break any rules:

“Consistent with standard operating procedure, the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau has reviewed the complaints and the material that was the subject of these complaints,” the FCC statement said. “The Bureau has concluded that there was nothing actionable under the FCC’s rules.”

During the television broadcast, Colbert’s words were bleeped and his mouth blurred.

In the aftermath of Colbert’s vulgar comments, it was reported that the FCC was investigating the comedian, based on remarks made by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai during a radio interview when he said the agency would take “appropriate action” if it found a violation.

However, as the Washington Post pointed out after the fact, saying this was an “investigation” was overblown and misleading, as the FCC has to look into any complaints sent in by viewers.

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Justin Baragona on Twitter: @justinbaragona

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