Jimmy Kimmel Drops Bombshell On CBS Following 'The Late Show' Cancellation

Jimmy Kimmel stands by his longtime pal Stephen Colbert's side following CBS's decision to cancel his show.

The host of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" called out the network in a heated post, slamming them for shutting down his friend's program while promoting other TV shows.

Despite being late-night talk show hosts, Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert enjoyed a years-long friendship rather than a rivalry. They frequently supported each other, even when it came to butting heads with influential figures like Donald Trump.

Kimmel addressed the shocking end of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" on his Instagram Story, sharing a clip of his friend's confirmation of the news. He captioned the post with a direct message to the network, writing:

"Love you Stephen. F-ck you and all your Sheldons CBS."

Kimmel's words referenced CBS' iconic character Sheldon Cooper, whose life was depicted in two hit series, "The Big Bang Theory" and its spinoff, "Young Sheldon." The TV host appeared to be calling BS on the network's decision to cancel Colbert's talk show while promoting other programs.

According to the statement released on Thursday, July 17, CBS claimed Colbert's TV program would officially end in May 2026 due to money problems. The network stressed that their decision was "purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night."

"It is not related in any way to the show's performance, content, or other matters happening at Paramount," they claimed. Despite the network's words, the timing of their decision coincided with Colbert's complaints about CBS's parent company, Paramount Global.

TMZ reported that Colbert slammed Paramount Global for coughing up $16 million in a settlement with Donald Trump over his lawsuit. The president filed a complaint because he was offended by the editing of CBS News' "60 Minutes" interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris.

Colbert did not mince his words against the production giant, labeling Paramount Global's hefty settlement "a big fat bribe." He suspected they paid Trump because they needed federal approval for a pending multibillion-dollar sale to the Hollywood studio Skydance.

Although his criticism might have contributed to the cancellation of his late-night show, Colbert did not attack CBS or its parent company.While confirming his May 2026 departure, the TV personality reflected positively on his time with the network. He appreciated everyone working behind the scenes, saying:

"We get to do this show for each other -- every day, all day. And I've had the pleasure and responsibility of sharing what we do every day with you in front of this camera for the last 10 years."

Colbert's time in the spotlight started long before he became a late-night talk show host. He rose to fame playing a closeted and repressed high school teacher in the comedy series "Strangers with Candy."

The TV personality became a household name as the host of "The Colbert Report," where he parodied right-wing news pundits and gained notoriety for his distinctive humor and satire.

Thanks to his achievements and comedic talents, Colbert became the ideal candidate to succeed David Letterman on his late-night talk show.

In 2015, the entertainer became the new host of the CBS program and went on to achieve more success with his witty banter with guests. One of his most famous interviews was with former President Joe Biden, as reported by WioNews, where he opened up about the pain of grief and loss.

Kimmel's support for Colbert was expected given their years-long friendship. They enjoyed a public bromance filled with jokes and sarcastic quips at each other, frequently reassuring fans that their rivalry would never be anything more than playful.

Following Colbert's takeover of the late-night program, Kimmel showcased his support by starring as a guest on the show. During the episode, they got candid about their love and respect for each other.

"People want us to fight and everything like that. Isn't that crazy?" Colbert asked Kimmel, who agreed it was "weird" that people expected them to hate each other. "I like you, too. I might even love you. If you died, I'd cry like a baby," Kimmel added, per Men's Journal.

Colbert echoed similar sentiments about loving Kimmel and proved his feelings were real last year. He defended his pal after Trump mocked his performance as host of the Oscars.

"You keep my friend Jimmy Kimmel's name out of your weird little wet mouth, OK? I'm mad. Jimmy Kimmel is my podcast brother from Strike Force Five," he declared.

Can Stephen Colbert bounce back after losing his beloved late-night talk show?