Stephen Colbert Isn’t Doing Well After His CBS Firing

Stephen Colbert has spent nearly two decades as one of the most recognizable faces in late-night television. Now, according to a new entertainment report, the longtime host is struggling to adjust after the end of The Late Show.

Entertainment journalist Rob Shuter, writing in his Naughty but Nice Substack, reported that Colbert has been "heartbroken" since the program aired its final episode on May 21.

"This wasn't just a job — it was his identity," one source told Shuter. "Stephen poured everything into that show. Losing it has hit him hard."

Another source described the comedian as taking time away from the spotlight while deciding what comes next.

"He's always been the one holding everyone else together," the source said. "Now he's the one who needs time. He's stepped away to figure out what comes next."

Shuter also reported that Colbert appeared subdued while attending the recent wedding of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, a contrast with the energetic personality viewers had grown accustomed to seeing on television.

CBS announced in July 2025 that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would conclude after its current season, citing financial considerations. The decision brought an end to a run that began in 2015, when Colbert succeeded David Letterman as host.

During his final season, Colbert continued to devote significant portions of his monologues to criticizing President Donald Trump, a familiar feature of the program throughout much of the last decade. While those segments remained popular with many viewers, critics argued that the show had become overly focused on politics, with some commentators—including voices on the political left—suggesting the approach had grown repetitive.

Conservatives, meanwhile, have long viewed Colbert as emblematic of the political direction taken by much of late-night television. Among the moments that drew the strongest criticism was his 2021 musical parody promoting COVID-19 vaccinations, a sketch that supporters viewed as public-health messaging but opponents criticized as heavy-handed and politically charged.

Whether Colbert returns to television, pursues another creative project, or takes an extended break remains to be seen. For now, according to Shuter's sources, he is focused on something much less public—figuring out what comes next after a decade behind one of television's most prominent desks.