Stephen Colbert, the veteran talk show host known for his sharp wit and willingness to challenge those in power, is receiving an outpouring of support from the biggest names in Hollywood as The Late Show concludes its 11-year run.
Many of Colbert’s famous supporters applaud the broadcaster for exercising his First Amendment right every night on CBS, even if it cost him his position at the network.According to reports, the First Amendment Committee – a group of artists who defend “freedom of expression against oppression, industry complicity, and intimidation” – has created a video compilation featuring its esteemed members ahead of Colbert’s final show on May 21.
Each member takes a line from the group’s heartfelt farewell message.
Celebrities honor Stephen Colbert’s courage on the Late Show
“He criticized CBS for paying Trump. CBS canceled his show,” “West Side Story” actress Ariana DeBose began in the tribute video. “For more than a decade on The Late Show, Stephen has used humor to bring us joy while holding power to account,” continues actress Yvette Nicole Brown.“He made us laugh, and he never flinched,” adds Jane Fonda, founder of the First Amendment Committee.
Oscar nominee Mark Ruffalo says he misses Colbert, but more than that, “I’m upset about what it means that he’s leaving.”Actress Sally Field points out that “authoritarians need to get rid of those voices, the voices of the people.” According to the committee, Colbert is not the first to suffer the consequences of expressing his opinion freely. “Jimmy Kimmel has been suspended. NPR has been defunded. The AP, The View and now The Wall Street Journal have sued, threatened and pressured,” they stated in the video.
Politicians join in tribute to Stephen Colbert
In the hours leading up to Colbert’s 1,800th and final show, politicians also joined the conversation. “There are not many people who can make people think and laugh at the same time,” former President Joe Biden wrote in an Instagram post. “For many years, Stephen has brought wit, heart and honesty to late-night television. America can always count on a laugh and an occasional much-needed reality check.”Hillary Clinton, a three-time Late Show guest, highlighted Colbert’s “thoughtfulness, compassion and humility” as well as his “remarkable intelligence” in her Instagram tribute.
“This is as great a next chapter as the last,” she wrote.
The committee pledges to continue Colbert’s legacy
As the late-night host exits after 11 years on the air, the panel of actors, directors, comedians and journalists pledged to carry on “the torch that Stephen held high.” The video concludes by saying, “You stood up bravely, even when it cost you something.” “This courage is contagious. We will not stop fighting.”CBS said Colbert’s cancellation is “purely a financial decision,” though the timing and circumstances surrounding the show’s conclusion have sparked significant debate about free speech and corporate accountability in the media.
