On Monday night’s episode of “The Daily Show,” Jon Stewart delivered a blunt, profanity-heavy monologue aimed squarely at CBS and Paramount Global in response to the cancellation of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.” The segment, which aired uncensored on July 21, 2025, ended with Stewart leading a gospel choir as they sang a message for the media giants: “go —- yourself.”
Stewart opened by reflecting on his long-standing partnership with Colbert, recalling the six years they worked together before Colbert launched The Colbert Report in 2005 and later took over CBS’s “Late Show” in 2015. He applauded Colbert’s achievements, emphasizing the delight he felt watching Colbert surpass expectations and rise to the top of late-night network television.
Shifting gears, Stewart questioned CBS’s explanation that the show’s cancellation was financially motivated. He pointed to Paramount’s $8 billion merger with Skydance Media—which needed FCC approval. Stewart suggested that ending Colbert’s show could be an attempt to appease President Donald Trump, especially after Paramount settled Trump’s $16 million defamation lawsuit stemming from a “60 Minutes” interview with then-candidate Kamala Harris.
Acknowledging the tough financial landscape of late-night TV, Stewart likened the situation to running a Blockbuster kiosk inside a Tower Records. Still, he argued that shows like Colbert’s contributed greatly to the $8 billion valuation Paramount and its advertisers now want to protect, even if it means resorting to cancellations and censorship.
Stewart went further, claiming the cancellation was fueled by what he described as widespread fear and an urge among American institutions to self-censor. He proposed that corporations are trying to appear so harmless they won’t draw negative attention from the Trump administration, but warned that this approach won’t keep them off Trump’s radar.
Highlighting this point, Stewart cited Trump’s recent lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch, owner of Fox News, to show that not even supportive media outlets are safe. Despite Fox News’s frequent promotion of Trump, he still targeted Murdoch over the network’s coverage.
Stewart made it clear he would not bow to corporate demands. “I’m not giving in, I’m not going anywhere,” he asserted, though he humorously added “I think,” alluding to uncertainty about “The Daily Show’s” future under new management.
CBS had announced the previous week that “The Late Show” with Stephen Colbert would conclude after the current season, attributing the decision to finances alone, with no connection to Colbert’s performance, content, or Paramount’s ongoing issues. The network called Colbert irreplaceable and said the “Late Show” franchise would end rather than continue with a new host.
Industry insiders have cast doubt on the financial rationale, given the show’s status as the number one network late-night program for over thirty years. The decision’s timing—coming after Colbert’s outspoken criticism of Paramount’s settlement with Trump—has only fueled speculation about possible political motivations.
Stewart and Colbert’s relationship is both personal and professional; Stewart is an executive producer for The Late Show, and both comedians share longtime manager James “Baby Doll” Dixon, who also holds producing roles for both shows. Their collaboration dates back to 1997, when Colbert first joined The Daily Show as a correspondent.
The uncertainty in late-night television isn’t limited to Colbert’s show. Stewart has previously voiced concerns about The Daily Show’s future under Skydance, mentioning during his July 17 podcast that new CEO David Ellison could potentially dismantle Comedy Central, although the channel currently leans heavily on both The Daily Show and South Park for its lineup.
Amid all this change, Comedy Central recently announced that Josh Johnson has joined The Daily Show’s rotating host lineup. Johnson, a writer on the show since 2017, hosted the July 22 episode with co-hosts Ronny Chieng, Jordan Klepper, Michael Kosta, and Desi Lydic, while Stewart remains in his Monday-night slot.
Jon Stewart’s raw, uncensored monologue on The Daily Show captured the mounting tensions between comedy, the media industry, and corporate interests. By fiercely criticizing Paramount for allegedly abandoning Colbert in pursuit of its $8 billion Skydance merger and in deference to political pressure, Stewart left no room for ambiguity. He spoke with conviction, warning that comedy and honesty risk extinction when institutions value profit and compliance over principle. His emphatic finale with the gospel choir sent a clear message: in an age of increasing conformity, Stewart and Colbert are committed to standing their ground, refusing to yield or fade away.