Oh boy, folks — if you were expecting a massive, fiery New York City demonstration to defend Stephen Colbert, you’re going to be disappointed. Because what actually happened outside the CBS Broadcast Center on Sunday?
Well… let’s just say it was closer to a really sad block party that nobody RSVP’d to. According to The New York Post, about 20 people — yes, 20 — showed up to “stand with Colbert” as he faces the loss of his “Late Show” hosting gig in May of 2026.
That’s right, Colbert’s exit is still nearly two years away, but apparently, the outrage machine couldn’t wait. The small group gathered on Manhattan’s West Side, with signs and some very loud opinions, before dispersing not long after.
Even the NYPD officers who were posted up nearby — just in case things turned rowdy — eventually left when it became clear this wasn’t exactly the storming of the Bastille.
Late-night TV used to be about laughs — not lectures.@jayleno tells us why he never shared his political opinions on The Tonight Show, and why he thinks today’s hosts are losing half of America by doing so. pic.twitter.com/dEvhjICdyC
— Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute (@RonaldReagan) July 22, 2025
The protest’s organizer, a man who told The Post his name was Matt but went by “Slim,” wouldn’t provide any other identification but explained his motivation. “We’re with Colbert,” he said, adding a bit of flair by referring to Donald Trump as “Mango Mussolini.” Another protester — who refused to give her name — framed it as a First Amendment issue: “This is a First Amendment attack. We can’t stand for that.”
But CBS says otherwise. The network has been pretty clear: Colbert’s departure is “purely a financial decision.” And the numbers back that up. Reports suggest The Late Show took a staggering $40 million loss in the past year alone.
Yikes. Combine that with waning ratings and the growing argument that Colbert’s unapologetically one-sided political tone has alienated a chunk of his audience, and suddenly this isn’t a mystery at all.
Even Jay Leno weighed in recently, reflecting on how late-night comedy has changed. Speaking to Reagan Foundation CEO David Trulio, Leno said, “I don’t understand why you would alienate one particular group … just do what’s funny.” He recalled when his own jokes would draw complaints from both sides — a sign, in his view, that he was doing something right.