American talk show host Stephen Colbert has sparked fury by failing to apologize for jokes he made about the Princess of Wales when he finally addressed the backlash he faced after her. cancer diagnosis.
The 59-year-old comedian told his audience on CBS’ The Late Show last night that he “doesn’t make light of someone else’s tragedy,” but stopped short of apologizing to Kate, who has been the subject of cruel conspiracy theories in recent times. time. months.
Colbert, a self-confessed anti-monarchist, accepted that his jokes had “upset some people,” adding that he was aware that “any cancer diagnosis, of any kind, is heartbreaking for the patient and their family.”
The presenter, who had joked about Kate’s “disappearance”, also said that he and all the show’s participants “would like to express our best wishes and our sincere hope that her recovery is quick and complete.”
In a monologue on last night’s show, he began by saying: ‘You know, folks, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we do a lot of shows and I tell a lot of jokes, and I tell jokes about a lot of different things, mainly what everyone thinks about. speaks.
Kate revealed that she was receiving preventive chemotherapy in a video posted last Friday.
Stephen Colbert opened up about his Kate jokes during The Late Show on CBS last night
‘And for the last six weeks or two months, everyone has been talking about the mystery of Kate Middleton’s disappearance from public life.
“We made some jokes about that mystery and all the reports about it.”
He said that when he made those jokes, “it upset some people, even before his diagnosis was revealed, and I can understand that.”
Colbert added that “many of my jokes have upset people in the past, and I’m sure some of my jokes will upset people in the future.”
But he continued: ‘There is a standard I try to hold myself to. And I don’t belittle another person’s tragedy. Now, I don’t know if her prognosis is tragic, she is the future Queen of England and I assume she will receive the best medical care possible.
‘But regardless of what it is, I know and I’m sure many of you, too many of us, know that any cancer diagnosis of any kind is heartbreaking for the patient and their family.
“And, while I’m sure you don’t need it from me, I and everyone here at ‘The Late Show’ would like to express our best wishes and our sincere hope that your recovery is quick and complete.”
But Colbert’s lack of apology sparked new backlash, with Queen Elizabeth II’s former press secretary Dickie Arbiter writing, “He may be very sorry for himself, but he didn’t apologize.”
The royal commentator also fumed on X/Twitter: ‘American chat show hosts have a cruel ability to make jokes at the expense of others and Colbert is no exception.
Buckingham Palace said she had undergone surgery and would be absent for several weeks. The Princess of Wales did not disappear, she was recovering.
‘This wasn’t good enough for the chat show hosts or the Twitterati – SHAME on you all!’ There is a clear message: involve the brain before the mouth, if the former exists.’
Social media users joined Mr. Arbiter in condemning Colbert for the jokes he made and for not apologizing.
One wrote: ‘Is that him (sorry)? He never asked for forgiveness. He acknowledged that the joke upset people, but I never heard any regrets or remorse.
Another posted: ‘I didn’t hear many apologies to everyone who made fun of this clip. Their insults were grotesque and outrageous. Like the others, it seems like another forced attempt to redeem his optics and reputation. You’re an adult with a platform, audience and followers SC, do better and be better.’
A third added: “I didn’t hear the word ‘excuse me’.”
Dickie Arbiter, the Queen’s former press secretary, led the fury when Stephen Colbert failed to apologize to Kate Middleton for jokes he made after it was revealed she was battling cancer.
And a fourth said: “I don’t see any regret there, just words coming out of his mouth and he doesn’t feel any of them.”
Others criticized Colbert for being “absolutely unrepentant” and stated that he “doesn’t sound terribly sincere.”
And another user suggested he should apologize fully to the Princess of Wales.
‘I didn’t apologize. She did not accept that her jokes were in bad taste. The only thing she regrets is that she is in trouble right now,’ another user fumed.
Kate, 42, revealed she was receiving preventative chemotherapy in an emotional video message broadcast by Kensington Palace last Friday night.
The announcement came after weeks of intense speculation and conspiracy theories on social media about his health and whereabouts.
Since then, there has been an outpouring of global support, including from the King, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Prince Harry and members of the public.
Online rumors about the princess intensified after Prince William missed, at very short notice, the memorial service for his godfather, the late King Constantine of Greece, in Windsor on February 27.
It is now understood that William’s decision not to attend was related to Kate’s condition, but it is not known when the princess was informed of the positive cancer test.
King Charles III at Buckingham Palace for a Windsor Leadership Trust event this morning
December 25, 2023: Kate was last seen with her family attending church in Sandringham.
More speculation was sparked after the princess admitted to “editing” her official Mother’s Day photo which had irregularities.
Another development was an investigation launched by the UK’s privacy watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office, into allegations that there were attempts to access Kate’s private medical records at the London Clinic where she had surgery.
It is not known how long Kate will receive treatment, but it is understood that she may be willing to attend events when she feels able to do so, in accordance with medical advice, although this will not indicate a return to full-time duties.
William will continue to balance supporting his wife and family and maintaining his official duties as he has done since his operation.
The Prince will return to public duties after his children return to school following the Easter holidays.
He and his wife will not attend the royal family’s traditional Easter Sunday service at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Buckingham Palace confirmed today that the King is expected to attend this service with Queen Camilla, but it is not likely to be a large family gathering.
Charles has been receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer since early February after he was treated for an enlarged prostate at the same hospital where Kate underwent abdominal surgery.