The president of Local 802 American Federation of Musicians, the union that represents the musicians of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” released a statement about the show’s cancellation on Friday, calling it “censorship.”
“The cancellation of ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ without clear explanation is deeply concerning and raises serious questions about the broader implications for free expression and artistic freedom,” Robert Suttmann said.
Suttmann went on to say that live music has been “integral” to late night shows for decades and that Colbert’s cancellation threatens both the livelihoods of musicians and “undermines the fundamental principles of free speech and creative expression.”
“We need to be very honest about what’s happening here: the President of the United States himself has said he hopes he played a role in the decision, and has warned NBC and ABC that their late night hosts are next. This is why it is vital for NBC and ABC to state, loudly and clearly, that they will not allow themselves to be similarly intimidated. Now, more urgently than ever, is a time for courage, not cowardice,” Suttmann continued. “When censorship is used as a tool to quash free speech, we must stand up together. What’s happening now is not only wrong, it goes against what we must stand for as a nation.”
CBS announced that it canceled “The Late Show” last Thursday, stating that the long-running late night staple started by David Letterman will come to an end with Colbert’s tenure. The series will remain on the air until May of 2026, which is when Colbert’s contract is set to end. Though Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, stated that the cancellation was financial decision, the timing of the move paired with the fact the network took no previous cost-cutting measures left many skeptical.
Earlier this month, Paramount Global agreed to settle its $20 billion lawsuit with President Donald Trump for $16 million. The lawsuit was over an episode of “60 Minutes” that featured an interview with Kamala Harris. That lawsuit and settlement also took place as Paramount was waiting for FCC approval to complete its $8 billion acquisition by Skydance. Shortly after Colbert called the settlement a “big fat bribe” on his show, CBS canceled the series.
The FCC went on to approve the Skydance acquisition on Thursday.
FCC Clears Paramount-Skydance Merger