Rob Schneider says Colbert gets ‘crash course’ on free speech after showing ‘disdain for half of America’

Actor and comedian Rob Schneider respects Stephen Colbert’s freedom of speech, but said the late-night show host’s “disdain for half of America” cost him in the end.

In a blistering op-ed published Saturday, Schneider dropped a reality check on Colbert, who announced this week that CBS was canceling “The Late Show,” which he has hosted since taking over for the legendary David Letterman.

Schneider opened by blasting Colbert for “doing nothing but wafer-thinly disguised Democratic propaganda talking points for the last eight years plus,” pointing out how he “greatly diminished his audience potential” by disparaging President Donald Trump’s supporters and openly shilling for Democrats.

Respectfully, Steven Colbert has been doing nothing but wafer thinly disguised Democratic propaganda talking points for the last 8 years plus.

While I completely support Mr. Colbert’s Free Speech, his utter disdain for half of America and every swing state, greatly diminished… https://t.co/XNQKgi2FkE

— Rob Schneider (@RobSchneider) July 19, 2025

While the “Saturday Night Live” alum thought it “took guts” for Colbert to call out his employer, CBS/Paramount, for settling a lawsuit with President Trump, he argued that the partisan talk show host “excluded conservatives completely from his show and limited (prevented) his audience from hearing opposing viewpoints.”

“Colbert fed liberal slop to his liberal-minded Kamala supporters and cared less about challenging them intellectually by actually appealing to their higher nature or engaging in thought-provoking debate. Nah, just keep sh—ing on half the country that is no longer afraid to say women don’t have penises and boys shouldn’t get to beat up girls in girls’ sports,” Schneider wrote.

“So while I support Mr. Colbert’s First Amendment right to free speech, that constitutionally only applies to the government not being able to silence you or seek reprisals. As for CBS/Paramount, they are a private company and they pay the bills… Or used to. So they can fire anyone they want!” he added.

The actor noted that he has personally “experienced repercussions, both financial and career-wise, for my willingness to express my thoughts and opinions in the public square,” adding that he was “fired from a movie because of my opinions on the COVID vaccine.”

Yep.
I said it.
And I meant it https://t.co/ppv5sItYFF

— Rob Schneider (@RobSchneider) July 19, 2025

CBS announced the cancellation of the show this week, citing financial reasons, which many questioned. Schneider thought the timing was “suspicious,” but noted that the late-night show format is on its way out and “the writing was on the wall.”

“But pissing off his bosses at the network made their financial decision even easier and apparently speedier,” he wrote.

“All of us who make our living being paid by the conglomerate behemoths who own and run show business must decide what, how much and when to use and exercise our freedom of speech. I, for one, value my freedom of speech more than making money at the expense of watching my culture and country get sucked into the Woke totalitarian demonizing, shaming and censoring machine that Colbert and Kimmel had no problem going along with and profiting from,” he continued.

“I wish Mr. Colbert much success in whatever he does next,” Schneider concluded. “Show business is a tough business.”