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Jon Batiste is standing by his former colleague Stephen Colbert.
In an interview with Rolling Stone AU/NZ on Monday, Aug. 11, Batiste, who was the bandleader and musical director of The Late Show from 2015 to 2022, defended the late-night host, 61, after it was announced last month that The Late Show will end after 10 seasons.
“What happened to my friend Stephen is a symptom of big money,” the composer, 38, said.
Batiste added: “We’re in a time where the right price can silence the voice of free speech, which we should be very, very conscious of. As artists, we have to constantly fight for free speech and fight for the ability to be able to share the authentic truth of our being.”
The “FREEDOM” musician also spoke about how it “meant so much” for him “to be in my 20s on national television and learning the ropes of being on a nightly show with a band and, really, being on camera and doing that for seven years.” He also noted how incredible it was to “evolve as an artist in partnership with him.”
“I’m very grateful to him and I think where he goes next, his voice won’t be silenced,” said Batiste. “The voice of free speech is challenge, but the soul of an individual cannot be canceled.”
Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty
He added: “He’s gonna find another megaphone, another outlet, I’m sure of it. I’m rooting for him.”
During a July 17 taping, Colbert announced the cancellation of The Late Show. Colbert, who took over from David Letterman as host in September 2015, said he was “grateful” for being given a chair and a “beautiful theater to call home,” as well as his viewers from “all around the world.”
News that CBS canceled the show came days after the comedian and writer criticized the network’s parent company, Paramount, for its July 3 $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump, who claimed that CBS News’ 60 Minutes deceptively edited an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Paramount has also been in the midst of a merger with entertainment company Skydance — a deal that will require approval from the Trump administration.
At the time, CBS shared a statement with PEOPLE claiming the cancellation was “not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”
