The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has urged New York state officials to initiate an investigation into Paramount following the abrupt cancellation of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. In a strongly worded statement released on Friday, both the Writers Guild of America East and the Writers Guild of America West appealed to New York Attorney General Letitia James to probe into Paramount for “potential wrongdoing” after the network announced the show's cancellation on Thursday.
The unions highlighted a troubling precedent by referencing Paramount’s recent decision to settle a “baseless lawsuit” brought against 60 Minutes and CBS News by Donald Trump for a staggering $16 million. Trump alleged that CBS News had misleadingly edited an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris during the previous fall's presidential campaign. The WGA expressed significant concerns, stating: “Given Paramount’s recent capitulation to President Trump in the CBS News lawsuit, we believe that The Late Show’s cancellation may represent a bribe, sacrificing free speech to gain favor with the Trump administration in light of the company’s efforts to secure merger approval.”
In their statement, the unions emphasized that while cancellations are a part of business dynamics, a corporation terminating a show under explicit or implicit political pressure poses a serious threat to democracy. They expressed alarm over the potential implications of such actions, especially considering the ongoing attacks on free press by Trump, which include lawsuits against both CBS and ABC, threats of litigation against media organizations with critical coverage, and the unconscionable defunding of PBS and NPR.
The WGA urged Attorney General James to take action, noting her experience in prosecuting Trump for illegal business practices. “We call on our elected leaders to hold those responsible accountable, to demand transparency regarding the cancellation of this beloved program, and to reassure the public that Colbert and his writers were not censored due to their views or the whims of the president,” they stated.
Following the cancellation, a spokesperson for James’s office confirmed that they are monitoring the situation closely. The announcement came shortly after Colbert, a long-time critic of Trump, referred to Paramount’s settlement as a “big fat bribe” during his show on Monday. He expressed his disappointment, saying, “As someone who has always been a proud employee of this network, I am offended … I don’t know if anything – anything – will repair my trust in this company. But, just taking a stab at it, I’d say $16 million would help.”
Colbert's sentiments were echoed by fellow comedian Jon Stewart, who criticized the settlement on air last week, labeling it as “shameful.” He questioned the implications of such decisions on the employees at Paramount who strive for quality journalism, stating, “I would assume internally, this is devastating to the people who work in a place that pride themselves on contextual, good journalism?”
In the wake of the cancellation, several lawmakers voiced their skepticism regarding Paramount's motives. Elizabeth Warren, a senator from Massachusetts, took to X to express her discontent: “CBS canceled Colbert’s show just THREE DAYS after he called out CBS parent company Paramount for its $16 million settlement with Trump – a deal that looks like bribery.” Similarly, Bernie Sanders from Vermont remarked, “CBS’s billionaire owners pay Trump $16 million to settle a bogus lawsuit while trying to sell the network to Skydance. Stephen Colbert, an extraordinary talent and the most popular late-night host, slams the deal. Days later, he’s fired. Do I think this is a coincidence? NO.”
In a statement issued on Thursday evening, CBS executives clarified that the decision to cancel The Late Show was “purely a financial decision in the context of a challenging late-night landscape,” asserting that it was “not related in any way to the show’s performance, content, or other matters happening at Paramount.” The Guardian has reached out to the WGAE for further comment.
