Piers Morgan has called out Stephen Colbert, labeling him as “a bipartisan activist hack for the Democrats,” which he believes explains Colbert’s recent decline. According to a report, since 2022, Colbert has featured only 176 guests with a Democratic leaning, compared to just one Republican.
Morgan expressed his thoughts on X, mentioning that many of the top late-night hosts have turned into what he describes as “hacks” serving a rarely popular political party. He cryptically concluded by referencing Colbert’s transformation into “canned food.”
Then, shifting gears from criticism of President Trump, Morgan made another post where he observed some troubling responses, specifically mentioning John Oliver’s stance from last year, where he urged viewers not to support Trump and instead to vote for Kamala Harris. Morgan framed this as less about comedy and more about partisanship.
In a third post, he aligned himself with a sentiment shared by Jay Reno, who commented on how late-night TV often alienates its audience with political humor. Reno suggested that while he enjoys political jokes, there’s a risk of dividing audiences, making it less enjoyable for everyone.
Political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen reacted to Morgan’s initial post, expressing concern about the implications of a president trying to control criticism on television. He seemed to suggest that Colbert’s anti-Trump stance is acceptable in a free society, but that the real issue arises when neutrality is forced and ideas fail to stand on their own.
In response, Morgan argued that it wasn’t Trump who caused Colbert’s decline in ratings, but rather Colbert’s own actions, which he claims led to boring viewers and diminishing interest.
