Over 200,000 sign petition to save Stephen Colbert's show ahead of NYC rally

More than 200,000 people have signed an online petition urging CBS to reverse its decision to cancel 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert'. Fans and fellow comedians flagged concerns about press freedom and corporate influence.

The petition, started by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC), accuses CBS and its parent company, Paramount Global, of giving in to political pressure from US President Donald Trump. The campaign has gained wide support ahead of a planned rally in New York to support Colbert.

BACKLASH OVER COLBERT'S CANCELLATION

Colbert, who often criticised Trump and his administration, was recently told his show would end in May 2026. CBS claims the cancellation is for "purely financial" reasons. But fans are not buying it.

"CBS’s decision to cancel Stephen Colbert’s show looks blatantly political," the petition reads. It also includes a powerful quote from comedian Jon Stewart: "The cancelling of Colbert by CBS represents the fear and pre-compliance that is gripping all of America’s institutions at this very moment, institutions that have chosen not to fight the vengeful and vindictive actions of the Trump White House. This is not the moment to give in."

Sydney Register, a spokesperson for the PCCC, told The Guardian, "If CBS cares about their integrity, our democracy, and protecting free speech, they must heed our petition, reverse their decision, and keep Stephen Colbert on the air."

The group also noted that tens of thousands of Paramount Plus subscribers checked a box on the petition saying they would cancel their subscriptions if Colbert is taken off air.

COLBERT ACCUSES PARAMOUNT OF BRIBING TRUMP

The controversy deepened after reports that Paramount Global agreed to pay $16 million to Trump’s foundation to settle a lawsuit over a past 60 Minutes interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris.

On his show, Colbert called out Paramount, saying they had paid Trump "a big fat bribe."

Adding to the tension, Paramount is in the middle of trying to finalise a multi-billion-dollar merger with entertainment company Skydance. The deal would need approval from Trump’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Many believe the decision to cancel Colbert may be linked to trying to avoid any conflict with the Trump administration.

Skydance has promised that "unbiased journalism" would continue if the merger goes through.

Meanwhile, the backlash continues to grow. Late-night hosts like Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, John Oliver, and Jon Stewart were present at Colbert's show. A recent Late Show episode featured a sketch mocking Trump, Paramount, and the situation, including an animated Trump hugging the Paramount logo — a spoof of a recent viral tech video.

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With inputs from Agencies