Writers Guild Calls for Investigation After ‘Late Show’ Cancellation, Citing Bribery Concerns

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The union responsible for the writers on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” has requested an examination by New York officials into Paramount after the program’s termination on Thursday, expressing worries that this action could potentially be considered bribery in disguise.

On Friday, representatives from the East and West Coast branches of the union issued a firm statement requesting that New York state attorney general Letitia James initiate an investigation into suspected misconduct at the company. They cited the example of the California State Senate, which initiated an inquiry into Paramount Global’s dealings in May, specifically referring to their controversial $16 million settlement with President Trump regarding the editing of a Kamala Harris interview for 60 Minutes in 2024.

It’s expected that cancellations happen in business, but it’s problematic and unacceptable for a corporation to end a show dishonestly, especially under political pressure. The union made this clear statement in light of the recent events, where President Trump has been consistently targeting the media, suing networks like CBS and ABC, threatening legal action against media outlets with negative coverage, and even cutting funding to PBS and NPR. This kind of behavior towards a free press is harmful and should not be tolerated in a democratic society.

Read the full statement below.

On July 2nd, Paramount consented to pay $16 million to resolve a groundless lawsuit filed by President Trump against 60 Minutes and CBS News. During an episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on July 15th, Colbert publicly referred to the settlement as a “massive bribe” given in exchange for a favorable outcome on Paramount’s proposed merger with Skydance, a deal that is currently under scrutiny in California.

On July 2nd, Paramount agreed to pay $16 million to settle an unwarranted lawsuit filed by President Trump against 60 Minutes and CBS News. During a regular episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on July 15th, Colbert referred to the settlement as a “big bribe,” suggesting it was given in exchange for a positive decision on Paramount’s planned merger with Skydance. This arrangement is currently being investigated in California.)

Approximately two days after, on July 17th, Paramount decided to terminate The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. They cited the show’s “financial performance” as the sole reason for this decision. For a decade, this program has been one of CBS’s most successful, cherished, and profitable shows, providing entertainment to millions on late-night television, streaming platforms, and social media.

Given that Paramount appears to have yielded to President Trump in the CBS News lawsuit, the Writers Guild of America expresses serious worries that The Late Show’s termination might be a form of bribery, aimed at suppressing free speech to gain favor with the Trump Administration, potentially as a step towards securing merger approval.

In a democratic society, it’s intolerable for corporations to end shows unfairly due to political pressure, whether overt or covert. Paramount’s action is concerning in this context, given President Trump’s continuous assault on freedom of the press. This includes lawsuits against CBS and ABC, threats of legal action against media outlets with critical reports, and the questionable defunding of PBS and NPR.

The Writers Guild of America urges New York State Attorney General Letitia James, who has previously prosecuted Trump for business practices deemed illegal, to collaborate with California in investigating possible misconduct at Paramount. We encourage our elected representatives to take action against those responsible, to provide explanations as to why the popular program was terminated, and to guarantee the public that Colbert and his writing team were not silenced due to their opinions or the desires of the President.

More to come.

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2025-07-18 21:24