Public Outcry Grows at 'Save Colbert' Rally Amid CBS Cancellation Controversy

On July 24, 2025, a rally titled "Save Colbert" took place outside the Paramount headquarters in New York City, drawing attention to the recent cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The event marked a significant demonstration against what supporters claim to be a politically motivated decision by CBS and its parent company, Paramount Pictures. The rally commenced at the historic Ed Sullivan Theater, culminating in a symbolic delivery of 10 boxes filled with over 250,000 signatures collected through a petition initiated by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC).

The rally featured participation from prominent Democratic lawmakers including California Representatives Ro Khanna and Ted Lieu, along with various entertainers and writers. Aasif Mandvi, a comedian known for his work on The Daily Show, and David Mandel, executive producer of Veep, were also present, voicing their support for Colbert's return to television. The PCCC's co-founder Adam Green emphasized the broader implications of the cancellation, stating, "This is so much bigger than one TV show or even one network. This is about the distressing trend of people in institutions pre-emptively caving and complying to a White House that has shown it will abuse power."

The cancellation of The Late Show was reportedly linked to a recent settlement involving a lawsuit initiated by former President Donald Trump against CBS News, which was condemned by the Writers Guild of America as a "baseless lawsuit". Trump alleged that CBS News misrepresented an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, leading to a financial settlement that some critics argue was a form of political bribery. Stephen Colbert himself addressed the media, criticizing the cancellation and the circumstances surrounding it, calling the $16 million settlement a "big, fat bribe".

CBS executives defended their decision by asserting it was based solely on financial considerations in the challenging landscape of late-night television, stating the cancellation was not influenced by the show's content or performance. However, public sentiment at the rally contradicted this narrative; protesters voiced their belief that the cancellation was a direct affront to free speech and dissenting voices in American media.

Attendees carried signs with slogans such as "Dump Trump. Keep Colbert" and "Don’t Bow to the Orange King", reflecting widespread anger over perceived corporate compliance with political pressures. Susan Staal, a long-time viewer, articulated the broader cultural implications, asserting, "This country needs dissenting voices. This country has comedians, secondary to journalists, who are now being infringed on free speech, the bedrock of this democracy."

Heather Cousins, another protester, labeled the situation as a "blatant act of bribery and against our constitutional rights of free speech," underscoring the rally's focus on protecting artistic expression in the face of corporate and political pressures.

Democratic lawmakers Tony Simone and Erick Bottcher reiterated the importance of media institutions in maintaining democratic values, urging CBS to reconsider its actions. Simone stated, "We must save Colbert, we must have him back on air. When you come for one American, you come for all of us."

As the protest concluded, participants marched through Midtown Manhattan chanting phrases like "Save Colbert" and "Fight back!", signifying a collective demand for accountability from media corporations. The event concluded with a symbolic gesture as protestors positioned the boxes of petitions outside the Paramount headquarters, representing a significant public outcry against censorship and the erosion of dissenting voices in the media landscape. The rally not only highlighted the support for Colbert but also raised critical questions about the intersection of media, politics, and free speech in contemporary America.