Lizz Winstead, co-creator of the iconic late-night comedy show ‘The Daily Show,’ has publicly accused CBS of canceling Stephen Colbert’s show out of fear of President Donald Trump. During an MSNBC interview, Winstead claimed that the decision was not purely financial, as CBS claimed, but rather an effort to quell the influence of comedians who speak out against the administration’s policies. The cancellation of Colbert’s show, which was announced at the end of its current season, has sparked widespread debate over whether it was a political move or a genuine business decision.
Winstead pointed to the broader context of late-night television, arguing that CBS and other networks are increasingly wary of hosting voices that challenge the status quo. ‘When you, people gravitate to you, and there is nothing and no one more authentic than Stephen, John. You look at these passionate pleas that they give nightly, and you’re like, that is real,’ she said. Her comments align with many liberal critics who believe that Colbert, along with other comedians, was targeted for his progressive stance, especially after he publicly criticized Paramount’s settlement with Trump, which some view as a political bribe.
The backlash against the cancellation has highlighted the tension between comedic commentary and corporate interests. Winstead’s essay in Rolling Stone further fueled the controversy, arguing that CBS’s financial rationale was insincere and that the networks are actively suppressing progressive voices in favor of more moderate content. Her remarks, which she framed as a warning to other comedians, have intensified the debate over censorship in the media and the role of late-night television as a platform for political dissent.