David Letterman isn’t holding back. The 79-year-old late-night legend has launched a scathing attack on CBS leadership, calling them “lying weasels” and accusing the network of masking political motivations behind what executives are calling a financial decision.
In an interview with The New York Times, Letterman flatly rejected CBS’s explanation that canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was purely about money. “I’m in disbelief,” he said, arguing instead that the real reason had nothing to do with ratings or advertising revenue.
According to Letterman, the timing tells a different story. He claims CBS executives negotiating the sale of Paramount to Skydance wanted to hand over a “clean” late-night lineup—one without a host known for regularly criticizing President Donald Trump. “When will the ink on the check dry?” Letterman asked sarcastically, suggesting the show was sacrificed to smooth the corporate deal.
CBS has maintained the cancellation is purely business, with the network citing a “challenging backdrop in late night” while praising Colbert’s talent. The show runs through May 21.
But observers have noted the suspicious timing: CBS announced the cancellation shortly after Colbert criticized the network over its $16 million settlement with Trump related to a 60 Minutes segment—right as the Skydance merger was seeking regulatory approval. For critics, that’s hardly a coincidence.
