CBS is facing boycott calls after ending Stephen Colbert’s late-night show this week. Some viewers now want fans to avoid CBS sports, though NFL supporters appear to be split on that idea. The backlash quickly spread across social media after Colbert’s final episode aired.
NFL fans call for the boycott of CBS after Stephen Colbert’s Late Show finale
The controversy started after CBS canceled Stephen Colbert’s late-night program, which reportedly had been losing around $40 million annually. The network’s decision triggered strong reactions online, with celebrities, TV viewers, and some football fans calling for a boycott of CBS programming.
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel publicly backed the criticism during his own show on ABC. Kimmel told viewers, “On behalf of everyone at our show, we want to say to everyone at your show: It has been a pleasure to work alongside you.” Kimmel then hoped that those who watch his show would also tune in to CBS for the final time. “Don’t ever watch it again,” he said (via The Spun).
The calls for a boycott soon moved beyond entertainment. Since CBS broadcasts major sports properties, including NFL games, the NCAA Tournament, and The Masters, some users argued that sports fans should also stop watching the network this fall. One social media user wrote, “Boycott CBS, Paramount, and any Ellison product.” Another added, “Thank you, Stephen Colbert. No reason to watch CBS anymore.”
One fan wrote, “It’s easy to support the boycott since the only show I watched on CBS was The Late Show (until NFL season starts).” Another user said that they will not watch NFL games broadcast on CBS, adding that they’ll “stick to another network” for the games.
Still, many football viewers admitted the NFL may be too powerful for any real boycott to work. One fan summed up that divide by writing, “I’m down with boycotting CBS… but there is no way on this green Earth I’m giving up the NFL!!”
Originally reported by Rishabh Shandilya on Mandatory.
