With The Late Show with Stephen Colbert nearing its end, some of Stephen Colbert’s biggest celebrity supporters are looking back on the host’s decade at CBS. Few farewell comments landed harder than one from Robert De Niro, whose short-and-sweet message packed a punch.
Speaking to Vanity Fair about his experience as a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, De Niro said: “All of my appearances on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert were memorable to me. I just wish I could remember them. What I do remember are Stephen’s warmth, humanity, intelligence, and humor. No wonder CBS canceled him.”
The line offered a clear look at how De Niro views the controversy surrounding Colbert and CBS, suggesting the legendary actor thinks the network caved to President Donald Trump's pressure. However, it appears to contradict Colbert’s own public stance on the cancellation. Since CBS announced that The Late Show would end, Colbert has largely taken the network at face value regarding its explanation that profit, not politics, informed the decision. Colbert has not publicly argued that politics played a role in the decision.
That interpretation is especially notable given De Niro’s history on the program. The actor appeared on Colbert’s show 10 times during its run and became one of the loudest and most vocal political voices among late-night TV guests.
Over the years, De Niro repeatedly used his Late Show appearances to criticize President Donald Trump in language every bit as harsh as Colbert’s monologues. In one appearance following the January 6 attack on the Capitol, De Niro praised Capitol Police officers as his “heroes” for defending democracy during the riot.
During other interviews, De Niro compared Trump to “a gangster” without morals and referred to him as a “fake president.” He also celebrated what he viewed as the return of normalcy during President Joe Biden’s administration. Few guests matched De Niro’s willingness to fully embrace the political tone that increasingly defined Colbert’s version of The Late Show.
Like Colbert, De Niro has also spent years being singled out by Trump because of his criticism. The president frequently attacked the actor publicly, turning De Niro into one of Hollywood’s most visible anti-Trump voices. That shared experience could explain why the actor sees the "warmth, humanity, intelligence, and humor" in the late-night host.
De Niro’s remark also reflects a view held by many fans who have questioned CBS’s reasoning for ending the franchise. While Colbert himself has avoided publicly embracing that interpretation, De Niro’s comment makes clear that he sees a connection between Colbert’s outspoken personality and the network’s desire to stay on the administration's good side.
De Niro ultimately became one of the most memorable recurring guests on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Few guests had the ability, or willingness, to match Colbert's humor, frustration, and disbelief night after night. The actor's farewell message celebrates what made Colbert special while still reminding fans that he didn't get a Hollywood ending.
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