Writers Guild calls on NY attorney general to investigate Colbert cancellation, Trump 'bribe' [View all]

Source: The Hill

07/18/25 3:56 PM ET


The Writers Guild of America East and West called on New York Attorney General Letitia James to launch an investigation Friday into why CBS canceled “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” accusing the network’s parent company of offering a “bribe” to the Trump administration.

The guild, whose members include writers for the Colbert program, asked whether the cancellation was meant to help Paramount, the owner of CBS, with President Trump.

The group noted Paramount recently reached a settlement with Trump on a lawsuit filed against CBS News. The $16 million settlement came as Paramount works to complete a megamerger with fellow Hollywood giant Skydance, a deal worth an estimated $28 billion that will need approval from Trump administration regulators to clear.

“Given Paramount’s recent capitulation to President Trump in the CBS News lawsuit, the Writers Guild of America has significant concerns that The Late Show’s cancelation is a bribe, sacrificing free speech to curry favor with the Trump Administration as the company looks for merger approval,” the guild wrote in a statement.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5409088-writers-guild-accuses-cbs-bribe/