Lizz Winstead, co-creator of The Daily Show, is blasting CBS for its decision to cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, accusing the network of caving to political pressure and being “afraid” of comedians who speak uncomfortable truths.
In an interview with MSNBC, Winstead pushed back against CBS’ claim that the cancellation was purely financial, saying the move reflects a broader fear of late-night hosts who call out hypocrisy — regardless of political affiliation.
“To cancel not just Colbert but the entire franchise? That’s a twofer,” Winstead said. “And that tells me you’re afraid. Colbert, like Jon Stewart and John Oliver, calls BS on anyone in power. That’s what real satire does, and Stephen did it brilliantly.”
Winstead also penned a piece in Rolling Stone on Friday, calling CBS’ explanation “thinly veiled” and politically motivated. The network recently announced The Late Show would end after its current season, citing budget concerns and shifting media trends in the late-night landscape.
Political Timing Raises Eyebrows
The timing of the cancellation has drawn scrutiny from critics, especially as it came just days after Colbert publicly criticized a settlement between CBS parent company Paramount Global and President Donald Trump. Colbert referred to the deal, which ended Trump’s defamation lawsuit against 60 Minutes, as a “big fat bribe” ahead of Paramount’s pending merger with Skydance Media.
Winstead argued Colbert’s sharp, authentic style may have made him a target in the current media climate. “When truth-telling comics resonate with the very audiences Trump hasn’t been able to reach, that becomes a threat,” she said. “And if someone can’t take that ridicule, especially someone running for president, they’ll do what they can to silence it.”
‘Warning Shot’ to Comedians
In her Rolling Stone op-ed, Winstead warned that Colbert’s removal could have a chilling effect on political comedy more broadly.
“This is why Colbert’s cancellation hits different,” she wrote. “Not just because he’s one of the greats, but because his ousting is a warning shot. It tells comedians — even the white, male, successful ones — that there’s a line. And if you cross it, they’ll find an excuse to take you out.”
She continued, “Underneath those thinly veiled excuses is fear. Fear of the power comedians have. Fear that people might actually listen while they’re laughing.”
CBS Stays Quiet Amid Outcry
CBS has not responded to the growing backlash, but insiders continue to insist the decision was driven by ratings and financial pressures in a changing media environment.
Still, liberal commentators and Colbert fans remain unconvinced — many seeing the move as part of a larger effort to marginalize progressive voices in mainstream media.
Winstead summed it up simply: “When you are authentic, people gravitate to you. And no one was more authentic than Stephen.”
