CBS ‘Censorship’ of Stephen Colbert Slammed by Democratic FCC Commissioner as Latest ‘Corporate Capitulation’ to Trump Administration

Key Highlights

• “This is yet another troubling example of corporate capitulation in the face of this Administration’s broader campaign to censor and control speech,” Gomez said in a statement Tuesday.
• “The FCC has no lawful authority to pressure broadcasters for political purposes or to create a climate that chills free expression.
• CBS is fully protected under the First Amendment to determine what interviews it airs, which makes its decision to yield to political pressure all the more disappointing.” Popular on Variety Related Stories Young the Giant Sets Summer 'Victory Garden' Tour for Amphitheaters and Arenas (EXCLUSIVE) AI Video ‘Jia Zhangke Wishes Everyone Happy New Year’ Emerges Online Gomez continued, “It is no secret that Paramount, CBS’s parent company, has regulatory matters before the government, but corporate interests cannot justify retreating from airing newsworthy content.
• The FCC is powerless to impose restrictions on protected speech, and any attempt to intimidate broadcasters into self-censorship undermines both press freedom and public trust.
• I once again urge broadcasters and their parent companies to stand firm against these unlawful pressures and continue exercising their constitutional right to speak freely and without government interference.” Reps for CBS and Paramount Skydance did not respond to requests for comment.