Stephen Colbert Blasts Washington Post Layoffs and Takes Aim at Jeff Bezos
Stephen Colbert did not hold back during his latest monologue, taking aim at the massive layoffs currently rocking the Washington Post. The comedian described the decision by billionaire owner Jeff Bezos to slash nearly a third of the staff as a massive mistake for the future of news. While delivering his jokes on The Late Show, Colbert quipped that the famous newspaper was now black and white and dead all over.
He pointed out how strange it was to see such a major pillar of journalism fall apart right now. Colbert noted that the situation was so bad that he had to get the news about the paper’s job cuts from a local station in Philadelphia instead of the Post itself. He looked directly at the camera to joke that there was no pressure on other outlets, but that it felt like only a few major newspapers were left standing.
The late-night host also poked fun at Bezos personally, showing a photo of the billionaire in a cowboy hat from his space flight. He joked that while these layoffs were a disaster, they might only be the second-worst decision Bezos has ever made, right behind that hat.
Colbert also teased the paper’s executive editor, Matt Murray, for saying the company had lost too much money. He said he would have read more of the editor’s comments, but he couldn’t get past the paywall, and daddy don’t play like that.
Colbert even mocked the paper’s famous slogan, which claims that democracy dies in darkness. He suggested that with all the cuts to international news, sports, and books, the masthead should probably just say Democracy: Die! Die! Die! instead.
His comments come at a time when many people are worried about the future of the newsroom, especially after reports that the paper is moving in a more conservative direction to avoid conflict with the government.
As of early February, Stephen Colbert is actually preparing for a major life change of his own. In a move that shocked the television world, CBS announced that it will be ending The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in May.
Colbert told his audience that he found out about the decision just last year and that the network is planning to retire the entire Late Show franchise after more than 30 years on the air. He has been the number one host in late night for nine seasons, but the network says the move is a financial one.
Do you think late-night television can survive without a major voice like Stephen Colbert once his show officially goes off the air this May? Share your thoughts in the comments.