New York and Los Angeles – The Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) and Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) have issued a statement following Paramount’s decision to cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
The announcement comes after an incident on July 15, when Colbert referred to a settlement between Paramount and President Trump as a “big fat bribe” during his show. This settlement involved $16 million paid by Paramount in response to a lawsuit concerning 60 Minutes and CBS News.
On July 17, just two days after the broadcast, Paramount canceled the show, citing vague reasons related to its “financial performance.” The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has been leading its timeslot for ten years and is recognized as one of CBS’s most successful programs.
The Writers Guild of America expressed concerns that the cancellation might be politically motivated. They suspect it could be an attempt by Paramount to gain favor with the Trump Administration amid ongoing merger discussions between Paramount and Skydance.
The guild stated, “Cancelations are part of the business, but a corporation terminating a show in bad faith due to explicit or implicit political pressure is dangerous and unacceptable in a democratic society.”
They also called on New York State Attorney General Letitia James to investigate potential misconduct at Paramount. The guild urges elected officials to hold those responsible accountable and ensure that censorship was not behind the show’s cancellation.
In support of their members affected by this decision, the Writers Guild of America plans to explore legal and political options while advocating for free speech within the industry.
