The Writers Guild of America has called for an investigation into Paramount by the New York state attorney general following the surprising announcement that “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” has been canceled. The labor union expressed concerns that the cancellation may have been a strategic move to bribe President Donald Trump into approving Paramount’s pending acquisition by Skydance.
In a statement, the WGA highlighted that Colbert, a vocal critic of Trump, had recently referred to Paramount’s $16 million settlement with the president as “a big fat bribe.” The union suggested that Paramount could be sacrificing free speech in order to gain favor with the Trump Administration. However, CBS has stated that the cancellation of “The Late Show” was purely a financial decision and not related to the show’s performance or content.
The WGA criticized Trump’s lawsuit against “60 Minutes” as baseless and raised concerns about the ongoing attacks on the free press by the President. They pointed out the lawsuits against CBS and ABC, threats of litigation against media organizations with critical coverage, and the defunding of PBS and NPR as examples of this trend.
The WGA’s full statement emphasized the timing of Paramount’s decision to cancel “The Late Show” shortly after settling the lawsuit with Trump. The union expressed worries that the cancellation could be a bribe to influence the merger approval process. They called on the New York State Attorney General to investigate potential wrongdoing at Paramount and ensure that Colbert and his writers were not censored due to their views or political pressure.
In conclusion, the WGA pledged to support their members at “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and throughout the late-night industry. They vowed to explore all legal and political avenues to fight for their members in the wake of this decision. The union remains committed to upholding free speech and holding accountable those responsible for any potential misconduct.
