‘Pure Cowardice!’: David Letterman Tears Apart ‘Gutless’ CBS Over Colbert Cancellation

Former “Late Present” host David Letterman scorched CBS on Friday and took purpose at his previous community’s management over the choice to cancel the Stephen Colbert-led franchise, one Letterman started over three a long time in the past.

“I feel at some point, if not in the present day, the individuals at CBS who’ve manipulated and dealt with this are going to be embarrassed as a result of that is gutless,” he informed former “Late Present” producers Barbara Gaines and Mary Barclay in a Zoom chat uploaded to his YouTube web page.

Letterman — in his first public feedback because the community’s shock announcement — known as the transfer “pure cowardice” earlier than alluding to its father or mother firm Paramount International’s $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump over his extensively criticized “60 Minutes” lawsuit.

CBS has claimed that the transfer to cancel “The Late Present” — hosted by frequent Trump critic Colbert — was “purely a monetary resolution towards a difficult backdrop in late evening.”

Whereas reviews have indicated that this system confronted monetary challenges lately, Letterman argued that “goons” like David Ellison know all too nicely that the TV enterprise isn’t the identical because it as soon as was.

“There’s no equity to those goons. You’re telling me they don’t know that? These guys are backside feeders. That’s precisely what that is. In fact they know that broadcast tv is withering,” he stated.

“So now they only need to ensure — on prime of shopping for one thing that doesn’t have the identical worth because it had 30 years in the past — they don’t need to be hassled by america authorities. So they need CBS to deal with all of that mess!”

Letterman additional questioned whether or not the community was “dropping a lot cash” with “The Late Present.”

“They didn’t do the proper factor, they didn’t deal with Stephen Colbert — the face of that community — in the best way he deserves to have been dealt with,” he stated.

Whereas he acknowledged that the information was each stunning and a “bummer,” Letterman informed his former producers that he loves the transfer for Colbert, nonetheless.

“He’s a martyr, good for him,” Letterman stated. “If you happen to pay attention rigorously, you possibly can hear them unfolding chairs on the [Television] Corridor of Fame for his induction.”