Fact Check: Did CBS threaten Stephen Colbert with a lawsuit over his YouTube channel?
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A week after his exit from CBS, ending 'The Late Show,' a rumor began circulating on social media platforms claiming the network had threatened Stephen Colbert with a lawsuit for violating a clause by launching his own YouTube channel, sparking speculations. Let us analyze the viral rumors and fact-check their authenticity.
Claim: CBS threatened Stephen Colbert with lawsuit
According to the rumor circulating online, Colbert started a YouTube channel after ‘The Late Show’ ended, in violation of a non-compete clause in his contract.
The post claims that the clause extends to one year after he either leaves the show or it comes to an end. The network allegedly said in a statement that it will pursue legal action against both Colbert and YouTube.
The post was accompanied by a picture of Colbert along with an overlay text stating, “CBS SENDS A CEASE-AND-DESIST FOR COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT.”
The claim has been shared on multiple social media platforms such as Facebook and X, garnering hundreds of thousands of likes as of this writing, with many appearing to believe the rumors to be authentic.
Fact Check: False, the claim originated as a parody
The rumors, however, are false as there's no credible evidence that CBS threatened Colbert with a lawsuit over his new YouTube channel, nor is there evidence that the network accused him of violating a non-compete clause.
A search on Google for keywords like ‘CBS Stephen Colbert Lawsuit’ and ‘Colbert Cease-and-Desist’ yielded no credible reports by prominent news media outlets, which, if true, would have been widely covered.
Moreover, Colbert’s image that accompanied the post has an overlay text on the top right corner stating, “Nothing on this page is real.” Hence, the post was intended as a satire.
Stephen Colbert returns to TV with jokes aimed at CBS
Just a day after finishing his 11-year stint as host of CBS's 'The Late Show,’ Stephen Colbert appeared on screen again. During a May 22 broadcast on Monroe Community Media, he quickly returned to the humor that made him popular in late-night television.
“It’s been an excruciating 23 hours without being on TV, so I am grateful to be able to be here on Monroe Community Media before they also get acquired by Paramount,” Colbert joked.
The comedian also took several light-hearted shots at CBS during the broadcast, indicating that he was adopting a more relaxed style right after leaving the network.
