Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy just unleashed a verbal smackdown on Stephen Colbert after CBS pulled the plug on his show.
According to the Hill, CBS recently announced the cancellation of Colbert’s long-running late-night program, citing financial losses as the driving force behind the decision, while Portnoy called out the host for being out of touch with the harsh realities of business.
The network’s decision wasn’t a petty grudge, but a cold, hard numbers game. Reuters estimated the show was bleeding a staggering $40 million annually, while The New York Times pegged the losses in the tens of millions. That’s not pocket change, even for a media giant like CBS.
Portnoy didn’t mince words when addressing Colbert’s apparent shock at the cancellation. “Buddy, you’re losing 40 million dollars a year,” he said, pointing out the obvious disconnect. If a business is hemorrhaging cash, expecting endless patience from the suits upstairs is a fantasy.
“Welcome to the real f—ing world,” Portnoy added with a jab that cuts to the bone. Let’s be honest—most folks running a lemonade stand would get the boot for far less. This isn’t personal; it’s just how the game is played.
Then there’s the kicker from Portnoy: “And then you have the arrogance to go hammer your own company?” He’s got a point—biting the hand that feeds you, especially when you’re already on thin ice, is a bold strategy that rarely ends well.
Colbert hasn’t exactly been shy about criticizing his network, especially after CBS and parent company Paramount settled a defamation lawsuit with President Trump for $16 million. The timing of the cancellation—just weeks after that settlement—has raised eyebrows.
Colbert called the lawsuit a “nuisance” and the payout a “big fat bribe,” words that likely didn’t win him friends in the boardroom. Airing dirty laundry in public while your show is already a financial anchor? That’s a risky move, even for a seasoned satirist.
Portnoy wasn’t buying any excuses, stating, “I’d fire you in a f—ing heartbeat.” He framed it not as politics, but as ingratitude—a fair critique when you consider the patience CBS showed despite years of red ink.
Some lawmakers on the left have floated the idea that the cancellation might carry a political undertone, especially given Colbert’s history as a vocal critic of President Trump. Paramount’s pending merger, which requires approval from Trump’s Federal Communications Commission, only fuels the speculation.
But Portnoy dismissed such theories with a dose of pragmatism: “This is called capitalism, in the real world.” Financial decisions don’t always need a conspiracy—sometimes a balance sheet tells the whole story.
Let’s not pretend Colbert’s sharp tongue didn’t play a role in his precarious position. His relentless jabs at Trump may have won applause from certain corners, but they also painted a target on his back in a polarized landscape. Still, the numbers seem to speak louder than any political vendetta.
The reality is, CBS isn’t a charity, and no amount of cultural clout can justify endless losses. If the progressive agenda expects networks to prop up struggling shows out of ideological loyalty, they’re in for a rude awakening. Portnoy’s blunt assessment hits the mark—business is business.
Colbert’s fall from late-night grace serves as a reminder that even the loudest voices can’t outshout a failing bottom line. While some may mourn the loss of his platform, others might see it as a long-overdue correction in an industry too often swayed by optics over profit.
