Bruce Springsteen Says Trump Drove Colbert Exit
Bruce Springsteen weighed in on the impending end of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” during a May 20 appearance, arguing the CBS decision reflects a political climate in which the current president “can’t take a joke.” The 76-year-old rocker delivered the remarks ahead of a performance and as Colbert’s programme prepared to air its series finale on Thursday, May 21.
During the taping, Springsteen performed “Streets of Minneapolis,” a protest song he released in January tied to the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good during an immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota, USA TODAY reported.
Springsteen then criticised the network’s move to end Colbert’s run, saying he was appearing “in support” of the host and alleging the cancellation was connected to Donald Trump’s intolerance of satire. He also referenced Larry and David Ellison, suggesting they were motivated to appease the president as Paramount’s corporate situation evolved.
Springsteen’s comments arrived as Paramount has publicly described the cancellation as a financial decision amid broader pressures in late-night television, while outside critics have questioned whether the timing intersected with regulatory and business considerations surrounding a merger involving Paramount and Skydance Media. Springsteen’s “Late Show” booking had already been flagged in coverage of his planned appearance during Colbert’s farewell week.
A White House spokesperson responded by attacking Colbert’s ratings and talent, according to USA TODAY’s account, while noting Trump had previously insulted Springsteen on social media. Colbert, meanwhile, has stopped short in recent interviews of definitively attributing the show’s end to politics, while acknowledging public scepticism about a purely financial explanation.
