What was intended as a passionate show of support for Stephen Colbert turned out to be little more than a sidewalk gathering with a handful of signs and some fleeting chants — a symbolic, if underwhelming, sendoff for a talk-show host who’s long been a cultural lightning rod.
On Sunday afternoon, a modest group of fewer than two dozen people assembled outside the CBS Broadcast Center on Manhattan’s West Side. The event, dubbed “We’re With Colbert,” was billed as a nationwide call for integrity, free speech, and media independence in light of the recent announcement that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would be ending its run in May 2026. But instead of a groundswell of grassroots support, the protest turned out to be a quiet — and brief — affair.
Even NYPD officers assigned to monitor the scene quickly packed up and left once it became clear that most of the demonstrators were dispersing within minutes. A few homemade signs, some impassioned remarks, and several curious pedestrians were all that remained.
“We just wanted to show that we’re not OK with this decision,” said a man identifying himself only as “Matt,” who claimed his nickname is “Slim.” As the event’s informal organizer, he paced the sidewalk with a cardboard sign in hand and voiced frustration not just with CBS’s move to end Colbert’s tenure, but with the larger political climate.
“Our country has never been perfect — it never will be — but the First Amendment is supposed to be sacred,” he said. “Now Mango Mussolini wants to take that away from us,” he added, using a derogatory term aimed at former President Donald Trump.
While CBS executives insist that the decision to conclude The Late Show stemmed from financial realities — citing declining ratings and escalating production costs — many fans and political observers remain unconvinced. Some believe the choice to end Colbert’s show was at least partially influenced by mounting pressure from conservative political circles, particularly due to the host’s relentless mockery of Trump and right-wing figures.
Colbert, 61, has long positioned himself as one of late night’s most outspoken progressive voices. Known for sharp monologues and biting satire, especially in the Trump era, he turned The Late Show into a nightly political critique that resonated deeply with liberal audiences and rankled conservative viewers. His Emmy-winning segments drew praise from the left — and ire from the right.
The show’s end comes on the heels of CBS’s parent company merging with Skydance Media in a high-profile $8.4 billion deal, a merger that required government approval and has fueled speculation about behind-the-scenes compromises.
Some protesters at Sunday’s rally were quick to tie the dots.
“This isn’t just about a talk show host losing a job,” said one protester, a woman in her forties who declined to share her name. “This is a direct attack on freedom of speech, on satire, on holding power to account. When corporations and political agendas silence voices like Colbert’s, we should all be alarmed.”
Another demonstrator held a sign reading: “He Wants to Kill Our Laughter — Heil to the No No!” A small but vocal statement against what they see as censorship through corporate maneuvering.
Still, not everyone sees Colbert as a martyr for free speech. The host has faced criticism for featuring a lineup of overwhelmingly left-leaning guests, with media watchdog group MRC NewsBusters reporting that since 2022, he’s welcomed 176 liberal guests and just one Republican. For critics, that imbalance underscores the polarizing nature of his platform — and for supporters, it speaks to a broader ideological divide in media that’s hard to bridge.
Despite the impassioned messaging from organizers, the turnout simply didn’t match the scale of the outrage expressed online. What was supposed to be a bold demonstration of support for Colbert’s voice — and, by extension, for liberal satire and freedom of expression — turned into a quiet afternoon gathering, quickly forgotten by most passersby.
As CBS moves forward without its signature late-night figure, questions linger about the future of political comedy on network television. Will there be room for the next Colbert? Or does this mark the end of an era where satire and prime-time network TV collided with real political impact?
For the handful of loyal fans who stood outside the CBS building on Sunday, the message was clear: they believe something bigger than a show is being lost.
“Stephen made us laugh when it felt like everything was falling apart,” said Slim. “Losing that voice — it hurts. And we should be talking about why.”