Stephen Colbert Condemns CBS Payment to Trump as “Big Fat Bribe” in GQ Interview

By Jim Mishler | Monday, 03 November 2025 04:13 PM EST

In his GQ “Men of the Year” interview that came out Monday, late-night host Stephen Colbert criticized CBS’ payment to Donald Trump as “a big fat bribe.” The network canceled Colbert’s late show in July. He revealed he had known “about two months” before the announcement that the show would end. The report noted that CBS’ parent company, Paramount Global, had recently finalized a $16 million payout to Trump over a “60 Minutes”-related lawsuit.

CBS executives described the cancellation as a financial decision, stating it was unrelated to Trump, Colbert’s content, or other corporate matters. Colbert had mocked the settlement on air, calling it a “big fat bribe” in legal terms. In the GQ interview, he defended his remark, asserting his satire targeted power rather than politics and that networks “should expect a little discomfort.”

The article portrayed Colbert as weary but resolute. He described the cancellation as granting him “oxygen back into [his] brain” after years of nightly political engagement. He characterized his long run as both a gift and a burden, noting, “The sewer gets in you after a while.” Colbert credited CBS executives with possibly saving his life, citing the personal toll of constant political tension.

Despite the controversy, he emphasized comedy’s importance, stating, “A laughing audience is the best medicine.” The piece linked the show’s end to timing and perception, noting CBS executives were navigating a merger with Skydance Media while handling Trump’s settlement. Colbert’s on-air joke and the corporate payout occurred within days, suggesting his firing may remain tied to whether satire again challenges power too closely.