Jimmy Fallon Reacts to Colbert ‘Late Show’ Axing as Trump Says ‘Kimmel Is Next’
Jimmy Fallon is not happy about the news of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert‘s cancellation.
“I’m just as shocked as everyone,” he wrote in a Friday, July 18, Instagram Story post. “Stephen [Colbert] is one of the sharpest, funniest hosts to ever do it. I really thought I’d ride this out with him for years to come.”
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon host continued. “I’m sad that my family and friends will need a new show to watch every night at 11:30. But honestly, he’s really been a gentleman and a true friend over the years – going back to The Colbert Report, and I’m sure whatever he does next will be just as brilliant.”
CBS announced on Thursday, July 17, that Colbert’s talk show will conclude in May 2026. “We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire The Late Show franchise at that time,” the network said in a press release statement. “We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late-night television.”
Courtesy of Jimmy Fallon/Instagram
The statement continued, “Our admiration, affection, and respect for the talents of Stephen Colbert and his incredible team made this agonizing decision even more difficult. Stephen has taken CBS late night by storm with cutting-edge comedy, a must-watch monologue and interviews with leaders in entertainment, politics, news and newsmakers across all areas. The show has been #1 in late night for nine straight seasons; Stephen’s comedy resonates daily across digital and social media; and the broadcast is a staple of the nation’s zeitgeist.”
Per the statement, the decision was a financial one and was “not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”
As Fallon and more celebrities continue to offer their support to Colbert and the show’s crew, President Donald Trump celebrated The Late Show‘s cancellation in a Friday Truth Social post.
“I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings,” he shared, per Variety. “I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert!”
He went on to state that Fox News’ Greg Gutfeld “is better than all of them combined, including the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show,” referring to Fallon.
The show’s cancellation comes shortly after CBS’ parent company, Paramount, reached a $16 million settlement with Trump after he accused 60 Minutes of heavily editing a 2024 interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Colbert addressed the cancellation news on-air Thursday night. “It’s not just the end of our show, but it’s the end of The Late Show on CBS. I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away,” he told viewers. “And I do want to say that the folks at CBS have been great partners.”
He went on to thank the show’s 200-person crew, whom he has worked with since taking over hosting duties from David Letterman in 2015. “We get to do this show for each other, every day, all day,” he said. “And I get the pleasure and responsibility of sharing what we do every day with you in front of this camera for the last 10 years. And let me tell you, it’s a fantastic job. … I wish someone else was getting it. And it’s a job I’m looking forward to doing with this usual gang of idiots for another 10 months.”
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Weeknights, 11:35/10:35c, CBS
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There is so much to be afraid of these days. The MAGA supporters and Trump regime are destroying our democracy by destroying our freedoms. Corporations are capitulating to Trump for MONEY. There are no morals, there is no decency. I'm sick of these people. God bless Stephen (& Evie) Colbert and their family for speaking the truth and for being FUNNY....which now seems to be a crime.
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Wake up out of your dream. If the hosts of late night would not be political, their shows would be so much better.
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First Amendment of the Bill of Rights (first 10 Amendments to the US Constitution)
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects five fundamental freedoms: religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. It prevents the government from establishing a state religion, interfering with religious practices, restricting freedom of speech or the press, or infringing upon the rights to assemble and petition the government.
Which means when they see something wrong being done or said, they can SAY something about it.
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Funny, because Fallon is by far the least political of the three 11:30pm hosts, and he's in third place.
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Telling us what we can watch, where we can go, what we should believe and what we should think...that's how you want to live! Wake up from YOUR dream!!
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Not true. We need people to speak up politically. We need to speak truth. Adding humor to it helps many cope with a sad and disgusting situation. Poor grumpy feelings hurt. Boo hoo.
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Excuse me, but every American citizen has the right to speak his or her mind, be they late night host or just an everyday Joe on the street. This is naziism come to America, and trump is definitely the American Hitler.
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No argument here!
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Sorry about Colbert and the possibility of other personalities losing their jobs over Trump. What ever happened to free speech? As a matter of fact, what has happened to this once great country???
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How do they have the power? It’s scary.
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Trump has so much money he can change anything he wants. He may even stop elections so he can continue ruling America til the day he dies, or so I heard! If you don’t bow down to him or give him what he wants then kiss your add goodbye!
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It's starting to get great again !!
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How? By cutting off a voice that speaks to millions of people, both here and around the world? You should be ashamed of yourself for championing a blatant push to quiet his critics. Ask yourself: How would you feel if the tables were turned and some Democratic president forced Fox News to do something similar? I would be outraged. There's the difference between us.
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This is sad and even sadder that Trump thinks he won. We need more people telling the truth and doing it with humor. I always loved Stephen and Jimmy for getting in Donald’s face and saying how I feel. Adding a joke also helped. Made me feel I wasn’t alone. Stephen will be missed.
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What's sad is that you think a stand-up comedian, who can respond "I was only joking" to any complaint about his bald-faced lies, is a source of truth.
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I'd add Seth Meyers to that list.
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So was this canceling part of the settlement between Paramount and DJT? Sacrificial Lamb?
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Oh, this isn't political? The Orange one went out of his way to say
Kimmel is next. So if he gets canceled are you right wingers going to say it's not political. That your boo hoo lord and master had nothing to do with it? He had everything to do with Colbert's cancellation.
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Hate that idea. Trumps ego doesn’t need more suck ups. It’s disgusting. Bye bye CBS.
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Free speech is gone. Can't even go to the Supreme Court anymore. They're all in his pocket.
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... and the guy with limited vocabulary is talking about talent. What a joke!!!
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The guy who refers to himself in the 3rd person. The one with split personalities.
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It’s beginning to look like Russia now! You speak the truth you lose your job or worse! So cowardly people bend to will of the government. How pathetic!
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I think I will cancel CBS. Cowards. Sad.
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Since Trumps been back in office, the world has changed and not for the better. He’s starting this 3rd world order and nobody will be unscathed by it. This isn’t the United States of America anymore, this is Trump World where the rides will make you sick and the food will kill you! Good luck..
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Trump is nothing but a power hungry bully. All bullies know how to do is kick people while they're down, and the fact that this particular bully is our president make me feel embarrassed for my country.
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Trump campaigned on lowering cost of living, lowering cost of groceries and other promises that will never get done. He played us, got elected and he knew raising tariffs would make groceries, cost of living explode in costs. He’s bragging about big money coming in from Tarrifs but has not said that money will benefit Americans that are not wealthy. He is using the Presidency to build his and his family wealth. I voted for him because I believed him now I hear social security will shrink and premiums will be higher than a 2% cost of living raise. I’m a widow on social security and I am already having to cut back groceries I cannot afford anymore. If you are not wealthy, prepare to die off like he wants you to do.
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You voted for him so excuse me if I don't shed any tears for you. I am in exactly the same position you are in but I didn't vote for the liar.
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While I agree it can be extremely hard to have sympathy for those who knowingly voted for what they are now on the receiving end of and have caused the rest of us to needlessly suffer from as a result, we need to also give them room to "see the light" as they come out of their Trump fog and not push them right back into his arms. He's been a grifter and a con artist for decades and the fact that he's still around shows he clearly has a knack for it so it's unsurprising people continue to fall for it. He's basically the Nigerian prince scammer email of the business and political worlds at this point, he doesn't need EVERYBODY to fall for his bullsh!t, just enough to make it worthwhile to keep doing. I have family members that are nowhere near as evolved as MissJane is, sadly, and are still lost to the cult so it's refreshing to see someone on the "other side" recognizes that what's happening is not ok because I didn't even think that was possible anymore. But the more people that wake up now and own up to their mistake in trusting him - which takes courage, more courage than Trump himself has who famously refuses to ever admit when he's wrong - the more power we all have to stand up against him and the rest of his cronies moving forward.
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Total BS. Lib Dem in camouflage.
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That’s because you didn’t really listen to what he was spewing out of his mouth. Some people only hear what they want to and did’t research the facts. The way he spoke about Veterans and people with handicaps would have turned any person with any kind of heart to know he was a LIAR!
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We must get Trump out of office!
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I detest Trump and the morons that keep pushing his views. I also despise the infomercial pushing Google employment. Keep the job ad off line PLEASE!!
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Argh, yes. This site used to have spam filters. Now every single post has that garbage attached.
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I think CBS caved to pressure of the authoratative regime! Frump calls the shots for media & what shows are on. Sadly he’s a spoiled brat who can’t take criticism! Stephen Colbert is best of the best may this administration rot.
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This cancellation has nothing to do with money but everything to do with Trump and he won’t stop until everyone who dislikes him is off the air. He is like a little bully boy in the schoolyard. The sad part is he’s winning because nobody has the balls to stand up to him.
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dumbo taco chump calls others by names, yet others expected to salute him. armed men sent to peaceful demonstrations and blocking an elderly women from crossing a bridge.what is next a RED american FLAG
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If Colbert and The Late Show goes away, so do I, from ever watching anything on CBS ever again, and I've been watching a LOT, Ghosts, Elsbeth, Matlock, as well as a lot of their older shows, but that's it...if Stephen goes away, so do I, and I'm thinking I'm not going to be the only one.
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That's where you lose audiences when you start taking the characters out of their show. Because people get used to them, they're like family. Once you lose them, they don't want to watch It anymore. Think about that.
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BTW - I WOULD sign in but YOU won't let me. The little "loading" thing just spins and spins
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Maybe something is protecting you from Trumps wrath!
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Stop acting like a spoiled little kid, I personally am not a fan of this person he is way to mean ,and hateful not funny in my
eyes
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Look for “peaceful protestors” to be out burning and destroying property, assaulting law enforcement and anyone else that doesn’t agree with them and all the while chanting freedom of speech. 😳
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Hmmmm Don't his family and friends watch his show? Here locally, he and Colbert are on at the same time.
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Well, that's the joke. "Colbert's so good my family watches him, not me, ha ha!" Affectionate ribbing and self-deprecation.
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So you haven't heard of recording one show while watching another one. Or just go online.
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Not gonna lie, Late Show was never the same after David Letterman retired. And Kimmel is just not funny, at all. Not into politics, these moves just make sense to me.
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Hopefully the other two morons, Fallon and Kimmel are next. Winning.
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At least you haven't mentioned Seth Meyers...
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Boo Hoo Jimmy Fallon is not happy. That and $10.00 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks.
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Jimmy Failure. 😂
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