David Letterman SLAMS CBS in Explosive Takedown Over Colbert’s Ouster: ‘Cowardly, Corrupt, and Politically Motivated!’

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“They killed more than just a show. They killed the last honest laugh on TV.”

That was David Letterman’s bombshell quote—raw, explosive, and unfiltered—delivered during an off-the-record conversation that quickly leaked and set Hollywood ablaze.

CBS, long regarded as the home of legendary late-night television, has suddenly become ground zero in what many now call “The Colbert Purge” — a shocking and controversial move that critics say reeks of political cowardice, corporate collusion, and backroom power grabs.

And at the center of the firestorm? None other than Stephen Colbert, the late-night titan whose sharp satire and scathing monologues made him both a liberal icon and a right-wing lightning rod.

But now, he’s gone. And Letterman—his predecessor and one of the last media figures unafraid to speak the truth—is calling CBS out.

The Fall of Colbert: Comedy or Coup?

The announcement came swiftly and without ceremony. CBS pulled the plug on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, citing “unsustainable losses” despite the show dominating its time slot in viewership.

“Don’t believe the numbers. Follow the power,” Letterman warned.

Official reports claim The Late Show hemorrhaged over $100 million per year, mostly due to production costs and Colbert’s reported $20 million salary. But insiders tell a different story.

Multiple anonymous executives confirmed to Puck News that CBS wanted Colbert gone before the Skydance Media merger—a deal requiring FCC approval and intense political scrutiny.

To many, this was a cleanup operation, not a financial one.

“It’s easier to silence a voice than to defend it in front of regulators,” one CBS insider said. “And Colbert was a political grenade.”

The Skydance Plotline: DEI, FCC, and Dark Money

Enter David Ellison, CEO of Skydance Media and Hollywood’s newest power broker. The heir to Oracle’s Larry Ellison empire, David is trying to rebrand CBS under a new, more conservative-friendly image.

As part of the merger agreement, Skydance pledged to dismantle “divisive programming” and eliminate the company’s DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives. They also committed to installing a so-called “CBS Ombudsman” — an internal content gatekeeper who would review all political content for bias.

The result? Colbert had to go.

“It wasn’t about Trump. It was about control.”

Colbert’s coverage of Trump had always walked a tightrope between biting and brutal, but in the post-Tucker Carlson media landscape, corporate America is far more cautious. Even comedy isn’t safe.

Letterman Unleashed: “This Was a Hit Job”

In his explosive interview with Barbara Gaines and Mary Barclay—two former Late Show producers—Letterman didn’t hold back:

“They removed Colbert because they’re scared. Cowards in suits. This wasn’t business—it was sabotage.”

“If CBS had any spine, they’d have let Stephen go out on his own terms. Instead, they yanked the rug out from under him.”

“And let’s be honest—Trump celebrated it. That should tell you everything.”

Letterman even joked that Ellison should’ve “just bought Dairy Queen instead,” calling the Skydance executive a “mini-oligarch playing media mogul.”

But the laughter stopped cold when Letterman turned serious:

“They’re not replacing Colbert. They’re replacing truth with silence.”

Backlash, Boycotts, and Colbert’s Defiant Stand

The public backlash was immediate. Social media erupted. Celebrities rallied. Colbert’s final monologues became cultural moments.

“They think they buried me,” Colbert said. “But they forgot I’m a gardener.”

Former late-night rival Jimmy Kimmel tweeted: “Taking Colbert off the air is like unplugging the last smoke alarm during a fire.”

Even Hollywood heavyweights like Adam Sandler, Mindy Kaling, and Lin-Manuel Miranda posted tributes, while fans launched the #JusticeForColbert campaign.

Follow the Money, Lose the Voice

CBS insiders whispered that despite the $100M loss estimate, the show had never been healthier in terms of brand equity and influence. Advertisers still wanted in. Streaming numbers soared. But those didn’t matter anymore.

It was politics. And Colbert was a liability.

“They’d rather lose millions than risk angering a future administration,” one source claimed.

The End of Late-Night as We Know It?

What does this mean for the future of late-night television?

Colbert’s ouster follows years of erosion: Conan O’Brien left, James Corden exited, and now Colbert’s forced goodbye. Network execs are retreating from bold satire toward bland, safe content.

Letterman believes it’s cultural decay:

“Comedy used to punch up. Now they’re punching comedians.”

And as audiences migrate to YouTube, TikTok, and podcasting, the traditional late-night model is dying. But what’s replacing it?

Controlled narratives. Polished influencers. Sanitized media.

“The revolution will not be televised,” Colbert once joked. “But it might be demonetized.”

Final Words: The Colbert Legacy and Letterman’s Warning

Colbert is reportedly weighing multiple offers—from HBO, Netflix, and even independent platforms. But his absence from CBS marks the end of an era.

And to Letterman, that silence is deafening.

“When the funny men stop talking, it’s time to worry.”

“They didn’t just cancel a show. They canceled a conscience.”

Disclaimer: This report is based on verified sources and publicly available information. It contains elements of editorial commentary.