In a fiery and uncensored segment on Monday’s episode of “The Daily Show,” Jon Stewart unleashed a scathing critique of CBS and its parent company, Paramount Global, following the abrupt cancellation of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” Stewart accused the companies of capitulating to political pressure from former President Donald Trump and lambasted their handling of the network’s legacy late-night program.

Stewart Takes Aim at Paramount and CBS

Addressing the audience, Stewart did not mince words as he condemned CBS’s decision, which the network insists was “purely a financial decision” and “not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.” Stewart, however, suggested otherwise, pointing to the network’s controversial legal settlement with Trump and the looming $8 billion merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media.

“Shows that say something, shows that take a stand, shows that are unafraid — this is not a ‘We speak truth to power.’ We don’t,” Stewart said. “We speak opinions to television cameras. But we try. We f—— try, every night.

“And if you believe, as corporations or as networks, you can make yourself so innocuous that you can serve a gruel so flavorless that you will never again be on the boy king’s radar — a.) why will anyone watch you? And you are f——- wrong.”

Stewart’s impassioned segment, which aired uncensored on Comedy Central (a cable channel not subject to the same profanity regulations as network television), culminated in a raucous church choir performance urging institutions to “sack the f— up” or “go f— yourself.”

Colbert and Trump Respond

Minutes after Stewart’s segment aired, Stephen Colbert responded on his own show, echoing Stewart’s sentiments and directing his own expletive-laden rebuke at Trump, who had celebrated the cancellation. Trump took to Truth Social to gloat about the end of Colbert’s show and predicted that other late-night hosts, including Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon, would soon follow, calling them “people with absolutely NO TALENT, who were paid Millions of Dollars for, in all cases, destroying what used to be GREAT Television.”

“It’s really good to see them go, and I hope I played a major part in it!” Trump wrote.

Colbert, meanwhile, blasted the Paramount-Trump settlement as a “big fat bribe” and declared, “They left me alive. And now for the next 10 months, the gloves are off.” He brought on “Weird Al” Yankovic and Lin-Manuel Miranda for a musical performance to cheer up his audience, and the episode featured cameos from fellow late-night hosts and media personalities.

Paramount’s Controversial Settlement and Merger Plans

The cancellation of “The Late Show” comes amid mounting scrutiny of Paramount Global’s planned merger with Skydance Media, a deal valued at $8 billion and currently awaiting government approval. The merger has been politically charged, particularly after Paramount agreed to a $16 million settlement with Trump, who had sued the company over a 2024 “60 Minutes” interview with then-presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Many legal experts dismissed the lawsuit as frivolous, but media reports suggest that Paramount chair Shari Redstone favored settling to smooth the regulatory process.

The fallout from the settlement has been significant within CBS. “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley warned the agreement would be “very damaging,” and longtime editor Bill Owens and CBS News boss Wendy McMahon both resigned, citing concerns over editorial independence.

Skydance CEO David Ellison, son of Oracle founder and Trump ally Larry Ellison, has also met with FCC officials, promising to embrace “diverse viewpoints” as part of the merger. Trump recently signaled his approval of the deal, which would give Skydance control over CBS News, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and other major media assets.

Stewart Reflects on Colbert’s Legacy and the State of Late Night

Stewart, who has a long history with Colbert dating back to their time together on “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report,” praised Colbert’s success in making “The Late Show” the number one late-night program on network television. He also acknowledged the broader challenges facing late-night TV, describing the industry as “a Blockbuster kiosk inside of a Tower Records,” but argued that abandoning the format is not the answer.

“When CDs stopped selling, they didn’t just go, ‘Oh, well, music, it’s been a good run,’” Stewart quipped.

He concluded with a vow to keep fighting: “This is not the moment to give in. I’m not giving in. I’m not going anywhere — I think.”

Industry Reaction and Uncertain Future

The cancellation of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” a cornerstone of late-night television since Colbert took over in 2015, has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry. While CBS maintains that the decision was financial, the timing—amid merger negotiations, political pressure, and legal settlements—has fueled widespread speculation about the real motivations.

As the Paramount-Skydance merger awaits regulatory approval and the future of late-night television hangs in the balance, Stewart’s and Colbert’s defiant responses have underscored the stakes for free expression and editorial independence in American media.

Paramount and Comedy Central did not immediately respond to requests for comment.