“Daily Show” host Jon Stewart came to the defense of former TV colleague and fellow late night host Stephen Colbert on Monday after “The Late Show” was canceled last week by CBS.
CBS claimed the move was “purely a financial decision,” but Stewart isn’t buying it.
“The fact that CBS didn’t try to save their number-one rated network late night franchise, that’s been on the air for over three decades, is part of what’s making everybody wonder: was this purely financial, or maybe the path of least resistance for your $8 billion merger?” he pointed out.
Paramount, which owns CBS as well as “Daily Show” network Comedy Central, is trying to complete a merger with Skydance. That deal requires approval from the FCC, the current chair of which was appointed by President Donald Trump, a frequent target of Colbert’s jokes who has complained openly about Colbert and other late night hosts.
“Was killing a show that you know rankled a fragile and vengeful president ― so insecure, suffering terribly from a case of chronic penis insufficiency,” Stewart said. “It’s a terrible disease.”
He said CBS lost the benefit of the doubt earlier this month when it agreed to pay $16 million to settle lawsuit with Trump that was widely seen as frivolous.
Stewart called that money “an extortion fee” for Trump.
He delivered a stark reminder to CBS.
“The shows that you now seek to cancel, censor, and control ― a not-insignificant portion of that $8 billion value came from those fucking shows,” he said. “That’s what made you that money. Shows that say something, shows that take a stand, shows that are unafraid.”
And he warned that trying to make content that will please Trump will prove fruitless given that he turns on even his allies in the media, such as the president’s new lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and its owner, Rupert Murdoch.
Stewart said there probably wasn’t a single email or phone call that proves CBS fired Colbert to please Trump.
“I think the answer is in the fear and pre-compliance that is gripping all of America’s institutions at this very moment,” he said. “Institutions that have chosen not to fight the vengeful and vindictive actions of our pubic-hair-doodling commander-in-chief. This is not the moment to give in. I’m not giving in. I’m not going anywhere.”
He added: “I think.”
Then he delivered an inspirational message to frightened media companies such as Paramount and any other institution ready to bend the knee to Trump.
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And he did it in the form of a song, complete with a choir: “Go fuck yourself.”
Check it out below:
