ABC’s Sunny Hostin on Colbert’s Firing: “This Is the Unraveling of Our Constitution”
The recent firing of late-night host Stephen Colbert by CBS sent shockwaves through both the entertainment industry and political commentary circles. On ABC’s *The View*, the panelists tackled the controversy, and co-host Sunny Hostin’s reaction was nothing short of incendiary, framing the decision as a dire threat to American democracy.
Hostin’s Alarm: “Dismantling of Our Constitution”
Sunny Hostin didn’t mince words. While acknowledging that CBS might have had financial reasons for canceling *The Late Show with Stephen Colbert*, Hostin urged viewers to see the move as “purely political.” She warned, “If it is political, this is the dismantling of our democracy. This is the dismantling of our Constitution. That means the very rubric of our democracy is being dismantled. And I think every single person should be really, really concerned about it.”
Hostin went further, expressing her support for Democratic senators demanding investigations into CBS’s decision. She posed a dramatic question to the audience: “If we find out it is political, what are we going to do as a country? We must protect our Constitution and we must protect our democracy! This is bigger than just the cancellation of a television show!”
Her passionate plea echoed previous statements where she criticized Democrats for not being willing to “fight and die” for their cause, and she has drawn controversy for her comments on political violence and high-profile incidents.
The Financial Reality: Haines Pushes Back
Not all hosts agreed with Hostin’s dire assessment. Sara Haines brought some hard numbers to the table, suggesting that declining ad revenue was the real culprit. “Advertising has dropped by 40 percent since 2018 as ad revenue moves to digital content and nontraditional media,” she explained, noting that Colbert’s show had reportedly lost $40 million.
Hostin countered with her own figures, claiming *The Late Show* brought in nearly $60 million in ad revenue. However, she omitted that the show’s production reportedly cost CBS $100 million—a significant loss for the network.
Joy Behar: “All Bets Are Off” for Free Speech
Comedian and co-host Joy Behar added to the sense of alarm, warning that “all bets are off” for the future of free speech in America. She pointed the finger at former President Trump, whom she accused of targeting comedians. “He cannot take a joke and that’s what these guys are doing,” Behar exclaimed, referencing Trump’s well-known sensitivity to criticism.
Whoopi Goldberg: A Cryptic Optimism
Moderator Whoopi Goldberg took a more enigmatic stance, hinting that Colbert’s show might not be gone for good. She chose her words carefully, saying she didn’t want to “give the other side the power over what I’m thinking,” but suggested there may be more to the story.
The Bottom Line
The debate on *The View* captured the polarized reactions to Colbert’s firing. While some see it as a straightforward business decision, others—like Hostin and Behar—view it as a harbinger of political interference and a threat to democracy itself. Whether CBS’s move was financially motivated or politically charged remains a matter of fierce debate, but one thing is clear: the conversation about free speech, media, and politics in America is far from over.
