Grammy-winning artist Jon Batiste has shown his support for Stephen Colbert following the controversial cancellation of his talk show, emphasizing that “his voice won’t be silenced.”
Batiste, who was the bandleader on Colbert’s show from 2015 to 2022, discussed the matter in a recent interview with Rolling Stone Australia/New Zealand. He expressed gratitude for Colbert and asserted, “Where he goes next, his voice won’t be silenced. The voice of free speech is a challenge, but the soul of an individual cannot be canceled. I have no doubt he’ll find another platform. I’m rooting for him.”
CBS announced the cancellation of The Late Show, which had been on air for over a decade, stating it was a “purely financial decision.” However, Colbert’s recent public criticism of the network’s settlement with Trump regarding a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris raised speculation about the true reasons behind the cancellation.
This decision has sparked backlash and garnered support for Colbert from various public figures, including fellow talk show hosts like Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart, and David Letterman. Batiste joined the chorus, noting, “What happened to my friend Stephen is a symptom of big money.”
He further highlighted the precarious nature of free speech in today’s landscape: “We’re in a time where the right price can silence free expression, and that’s something we should be very conscious of. As artists, we must relentlessly advocate for free speech and the ability to share our authentic truths.”
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