Stephen Colbert is an award-winning late-night host who has been on television since joining the cast of Comedy Central's parody-news series The Daily Show in 1997. In the wake of the impending cancellation of his series The Late Show, it has just been announced that his final episode will air on Thursday, May 21, 2026.In the latest news involving the cancellation of The Late Show and the airing of its final episode, media personality Perez Hilton has weighed in with his thoughts on Stephen Colbert’s impending swan song after Colbert revealed the final air date during a recent appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers.“Stephen Colbert has OFFICIALLY announced the much-anticipated exact date of his very last episode of The Late Show, and yes, a whole buncha feelings are being FELT.”Hilton went on to add,“Let’s be real: Colbert didn’t just host a show here. He owned the political satire lane, roasted presidents left and right (but then that was part of the problem, wasn’t it?), and somehow made smart jokes go viral in an age of doom-scrolling. Not easy! And while some hosts faded or flopped, Colbert stayed sharp, relevant, and consistently booked the biggest names in politics and pop culture for years… and years… and years across multiple different TV projects! Love him or hate him, you’ve gotta give the man some freakin’ credit!”Perez’s recent comments support the notion that Stephen Colbert is clearly held in extremely high regard by his audience, who await the next chapter in the storied entertainer’s career.Stephen Colbert's initial announcement, moreInterestingly, Stephen Colbert broke the news of his cancellation on air while hosting his show in July 2025.“Yeah, I share your feelings. This is all just going away. I do want to say that the folks at CBS have been great partners. I’m so grateful to the Tiffany Network for giving me this chair and this beautiful theater to call home. And of course, I’m grateful to you, the audience who have joined us. … And I am extraordinarily, deeply grateful to the 200 people who work here.”In a statement released at the time, CBS clarified that it was purely a monetary decision.“This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount."The tone of the statement then shifted, heaping praise on the host, despite announcing his termination from the network."Our admiration, affection and respect for the talents of Stephen Colbert and his incredible team made this agonizing decision even more difficult. Stephen has taken CBS late night by storm with cutting-edge comedy, a must-watch monologue and interviews with leaders in entertainment, politics, news and newsmakers across all areas. The show has been No. 1 in late night for nine straight seasons; Stephen’s comedy resonates daily across digital and social media; and the broadcast is a staple of the nation’s zeitgeist.”It will be interesting to see how Stephen Colbert will choose to tackle life after late-night, though as of right now, there are no firm indications on his next steps.