Stephen Colbert Criticizes Paramount After Winning WGA Award for Bravery

Stephen Colbert used his Walter Bernstein Award acceptance at the WGA East awards to criticize Paramount. The Bernstein statue, named after the blacklisted writer, is presented for "bravery" in the industry. CBS announced last summer that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would be canceled on May 21, 2026.

Since then Colbert has sparred with the FCC and his network as new owner David Ellison transforms CBS and its parent company, Paramount Skydance. In his speech Colbert said he did not "deserve the implied parallel" with Bernstein and expressed surprise that the Hollywood Blacklist was not a law but "a voluntary industry-wide agreement to deny work to left-leaning artists." He warned that it was the threat of government pressure that "ended so many careers," and quipped, "This is not the Red Scare...

The revolution will not be televised.

United States, Hollywood

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