Liberal celebrities and politicians mourned the cancellation of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" as CBS claims the decision is purely financial and unrelated to the show's content.

Stephen Colbert's "The Late Show", long a staple of late night US television, will end in 2026, the CBS network said, days after the comedian blasted parent company Paramount's $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump as "a big fat bribe.

Colbert’s cancellation came days after he mocked Paramount, which owns CBS, for its $16 million settlement with Trump in a lawsuit many considered meritless. That settlement comes as Paramount attempts a merger with Skydance Media, which requires FCC approval to proceed.

CBS Mornings' hosts reacted with sadness and surprise to the cancellation of 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' that was announced Thursday.

This is all just going away,” host Stephen Colbert said while taping his Thursday show.