{"id":602762,"date":"2026-05-25T09:37:07","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T09:37:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/602762\/"},"modified":"2026-05-25T09:37:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T09:37:07","slug":"cbs-pause-copyright-takedowns-on-youtube-uploads-of-stephen-colberts-only-in-monroe-show-after-public-outcry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/602762\/","title":{"rendered":"CBS pause copyright takedowns on YouTube uploads of Stephen Colbert\u2019s \u2018Only in Monroe\u2019 show after public outcry"},"content":{"rendered":"

CBS has paused takedown notices issued to YouTube users uploading bootleg clips of Stephen Colbert<\/a>\u2018s recent stint on Only in Monroe.<\/p>\n

Colbert\u2019s long-running late-night show aired for the last time on Thursday (May 21), and during his final monologue, he reflected on his 2015 appearance on Michigan\u2019s public access station, Only In Monroe, where he performed a test run of\u00a0The Late Show \u201cfor an audience of 12 people\u201d, with Eminem<\/a>\u00a0as a guest.<\/p>\n

On Friday night (May 22), he surprised audiences by returning to the station\u2019s 11:35pm time slot alongside regular hosts, Michelle Baumann and Kaye Lani Rae Rafko Wilson, as well as guests like Detroit native Jack White<\/a> and actors Steve Buscemi<\/a>\u00a0and Jeff Daniels.<\/p>\n

Colbert then launched his new YouTube channel over the weekend, and so far has only one video uploaded, his May 22 hosting gig on Only in Monroe. However, other YouTube users appeared to beat him to uploading it, with one channel bringing in over 600,000 views on their clip of Colbert\u2019s show, while his own YouTube page has just over half of those views for the same video.<\/p>\n

Many expressed frustration after being hit with copyright takedown notices for sharing clips, and, given the outcry over the notices, CBS then said that for now, it would stop any further action on takedowns.<\/p>\n

A day after his show was canceled by CBS, Stephen Colbert guest-hosted ‘Only in Monroe,’ a local public access show in Monroe, Michigan, along with musical director Jack White. pic.twitter.com\/GIU1eUBUyl<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Blue Georgia (@BlueGeorgia) May 23, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Paramount is apparently trying to suppress copies of “Only in Monroe” from appearing on other social platforms by filing frivolous copyright notices, even though the show was produced by a public access TV channel and doesn’t use their intellectual property\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/yS6vjiIoic<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/0rqfThpDvQ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) May 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cStephen Colbert\u2019s return to Monroe in the \u2018Only in Monroe\u2019 episode was financed and produced by CBS Studios and was posted on Stephen Colbert\u2019s YouTube channel in collaboration with Monroe Community Media and \u2018The Late Show\u2019s\u2019 YouTube channels,\u201d a CBS spokesperson said in a statement to Variety<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs is our regular practice, we send copyright notices to unauthorized websites that post copyrighted content from CBS and our network\/studio talent such as Stephen Colbert.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, for this episode, we have decided to waive further enforcement of this standard industry practice until additional review.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many have speculated that the move to cancel\u00a0The Late Show\u00a0was politically motivated, with Colbert among the most prominent critics of the Trump administration. This viewpoint was amplified by Donald Trump<\/a>\u2018s move to share an AI-generated video of himself throwing the host into a bin<\/a> when the show concluded.<\/p>\n

Robert De Niro<\/a>\u00a0was unflinching when it came to Trump during his last appearance on Colbert\u2019s talk show<\/a>, referencing the unreleased files relating to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, while\u00a0Bruce Springsteen also made a jab di<\/a>rected at him<\/a>, saying Colbert was \u201cthe first guy in America who lost his show because we got a president who can\u2019t take a joke<\/a>\u201c.<\/p>\n