why did stephen colbert get fired

Stephen Colbert was not exactly "fired" but his show, "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," was announced to be canceled by CBS with the franchise ending in May 2026 when his contract expires. The official reason given by CBS and Paramount Global was a financial decision based on increasing expenses, diminishing profits, and a challenging market in late night television. The show was reportedly losing around $30-40 million a year. However, the cancellation came amidst controversy. Colbert is well known for his pointed critiques of Donald Trump and the Trump administration. Just days before the cancellation announcement, Paramount Global (CBS's parent company) settled a $16 million lawsuit with Donald Trump. Colbert had publicly criticized this settlement on his show, calling it a "big fat bribe." Many speculate the cancellation was influenced by political pressures linked to this settlement and the pending merger of Paramount Global with Skydance Media, which required regulatory approval potentially affected by the Trump administration. Colbert himself joked about an eyebrow-raising theory that his "controversial summer mustache" might have triggered the closure but this was likely humor. Public and political figures including Senator Elizabeth Warren and the Writers Guild of America expressed concern that the cancellation might have been a politically motivated suppression of Colbert's critical voice. In summary, while CBS states the cancellation was for financial reasons, there is significant speculation and circumstantial evidence indicating political considerations and conflicts stemming from Colbert's criticisms of Trump also played a role in the decision.