Writers Guild Calls for Investigation After 'Late Show' Cancellation, Citing Bribery Concerns

The union representing writers on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert is calling for a New York state investigation into Paramount following the cancellation of the show on Thursday, airing concerns that the move may be a form of bribery.

The union’s East and West Coast branches asked that New York state Attorney General Letitia James open an inquiry into “potential wrongdoing” at the company in a strongly worded statement on Friday. The WGA East and West pointed to the precedent of the California State Senate, which in May launched an inquiry into Paramount Global’s controversial $16 million settlement with President Trump over the editing of a Kamala Harris 60 Minutes interview in 2024.

“Cancelations are part of the business, but a corporation terminating a show in bad faith due to explicit or implicit political pressure is dangerous and unacceptable in a democratic society,” the union stated. “Paramount’s decision comes against a backdrop of relentless attacks on a free press by President Trump, through lawsuits against CBS and ABC, threatened litigation of media organizations with critical coverage, and the unconscionable defunding of PBS and NPR.”

The union further requested of “elected leaders” in general that they “hold those responsible to account” and “demand answers” about the cancellation.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/writers-guild-calls-investigation-show-181921115.html