CBS made a sudden and surprising announcement: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert—the network’s top-rated late-night program—will officially come to an end by May 2026. Along with it, the entire “Late Show” brand will also be retired. Just hours after the news broke, fellow late-night host Jimmy Kimmel fired back with a blunt, now-viral Instagram story.

“Love you, Stephen. F— you and all your Sheldons, CBS.”
The brief but cutting message wasn’t just support for Colbert—it was a clear shot at the network, suggesting something deeper than just a business decision. In the eyes of many across the entertainment world, it raised a pressing question: Was CBS making a strategic move, or was there more behind the curtain—perhaps even political pressure?

Colbert himself addressed the announcement during a Thursday taping of the show. Holding back emotion, he calmly informed viewers that the end was near.

“This is purely a financial decision, made in response to challenges in late-night television,” Colbert said in his monologue. “It has nothing to do with ratings, content, or politics.”