Stephen Colbert says 'I’m more conservative than people think' in surprising admission

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: In a revealing conversation with GQ, comedian and late-night host Stephen Colbert addressed a surprising dimension of his personal beliefs and reflected on the winding down of his tenure on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert'. 

Though widely seen as a liberal cultural figure, he admitted to being “more conservative than people think.” 

Stephen Colbert redefines perception

Colbert explained that his onscreen persona, particularly the voice he uses to respond to today’s political storms, is often mistaken for a radical left-wing stance.

“People perceive me as this sort of lefty figure,” he said, noting his style of commentary.

He remarked that the tone of his show is more about reaction than ideology. “I just happen to be talking about a government in extremis. And so what I’m giving you is my reaction video to the day. And my reaction video is like [Edvard Munch’s painting] The Scream, in a way, but with jokes."

Colbert traced the roots of his worldview back to his Catholic faith and more traditional values, describing his views as a kind of “small-c” conservatism grounded in values rather than politics.

He made clear that he’s nothing like the persona he played on The Colbert Report, explaining, “Whereas at The Colbert Report, it was almost nothing. Basically it was Catholic and Lord of the Rings were the only two things that we had in common.”

Speaking about the difference between his two shows, he explained, “I don’t generally say or do things that I don’t mean on the show unless I’m in character, like in a sketch.”

Without taking names, Colbert responded to Jay Leno’s claim that late-night shows “alienate” half their audience. He said, “We broadcast to a general audience. However much there might be a balkanization of how people view television, it’s a general audience. You just turn on your TV.”

Stephen Colbert on change and moving forward

In the same interview, Colbert opened up about the unexpected cancellation of The Late Show after nine years as CBS’s top-ranked late-night program. 

He revealed he “found out through his manager, no one from CBS called him", and described the news as “surprising” given the show’s record of success.

He reflected on the unique energy of performing live nightly, describing the late-night format as a “third space” for viewers, a place beyond home or work where cultural catharsis happens. “We’re like your friend who at the end of the day paid attention to what happened today more than you did,” he said.

Despite the looming end of the show, Colbert insisted on remaining energized and committed: “I love creating things … I want to continue to do that with my team to the degree that I can.”