US talk show host Stephen Colbert faces fresh backlash as he finally addresses his Kate Middleton ‘jokes’ – telling viewers ‘I do not make light of somebody else’s tragedy’ – but stops short of a full apology

American talk show host Stephen Colbert has done that sparked outrage by not apologizing for the jokes he made about the Princess of Wales, while finally addressing the backlash he got when he followed her cancer diagnosis.

The 59-year-old comedian told his audience on The Late Show on CBS last night that he “doesn’t make light of anyone else’s tragedy” – but he failed to apologize to Kate, who has been the subject of late of cruel conspiracy theories. 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 distressing for the patient and for their family’ .

The presenter – who had joked about Kate’s ‘disappearance’ – also said he and everyone on the program ‘would like to send our good wishes and sincere hopes that her recovery will be speedy and thorough’.

In a monologue on last night’s show, he started off 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, usually what everyone is talking about.

“And for the past six weeks to 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 reporting about it.”

He said that when he made those jokes, “some people got upset, even before her diagnosis became known, and I can understand that.”

Colbert added that “a lot 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’s a standard I try to hold myself to. And that means I don’t make light of someone else’s tragedy. Now I don’t know if her prognosis is tragic, she is the future Queen of England and I assume she will get the best medical care possible.

‘But whatever it is, I know, and I’m sure many of you, far too many of us, know that any cancer diagnosis of any kind is distressing for the patient and for their family.

“And while I’m sure they don’t need it from me, I and everyone here at ‘The Late Show’ want to send our well wishes and sincere hopes that her recovery will be speedy and thorough.”

But Colbert’s lack of apology sparked further backlash, with Queen Elizabeth II’s former press secretary Dickie Arbiter writing: “He may have been sorry for himself, but he didn’t apologize.”

The royal commentator also raged 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 away for a number of weeks. The Princess of Wales didn’t disappear, she was recovering.

‘This wasn’t good enough for the chat show hosts or the Twitterati – DAMAGE to all of them. There is a clear message: engage the brain before the mouth, if the former even exists.”

Mr. Arbiter was joined by social media users who condemned Colbert for the jokes he made and did not apologize.

One wrote: ‘Did he (sorry)? He never said sorry. He acknowledged that the joke upset people, but I never heard any remorse or even remorse.”

Another wrote: ‘I didn’t hear many apologies to anyone he was making fun of in this clip. His comments were grotesque and outrageous. Like the others, it seems like another forced attempt to cash in on their optics and reputation. You are an adult with a platform, audience and followers. SC, do better and be better.”

A third added: “I didn’t hear the word ‘apology’.”

And a fourth said: ‘I don’t see any remorse there, just words coming out of his mouth and he doesn’t feel any of it.’

Others criticized Colbert for having “no remorse at all” and claimed he “didn’t sound very sincere.”

And another user suggested he apologize fully to the Princess of Wales.

‘I didn’t apologize. Did not accept that his jokes were distasteful. “The only thing he regrets is that he’s in trouble now,” another user said angrily.”

Kate, 42, revealed she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy in an emotional video message from Kensington Palace last Friday night.

The announcement came after weeks of intense speculation and conspiracy theories on social media about her health and whereabouts.

Since then there has been a global outpouring of support, including from the King, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Prince Harry and members of the public.

Online rumors about the princess increased after Prince William missed the memorial service of his godfather, the late King Constantine of Greece, in Windsor on February 27 at very short notice.

It is now clear that William’s decision not to attend was related to Kate’s condition, but it is not known when the princess was told about the positive test for cancer.

Further speculation arose after the princess admitted to ‘editing’ her official Mother’s Day photo, which contained irregularities.

In a further development, the UK’s privacy watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office, launched an investigation into allegations that attempts had been made to access Kate’s personal medical records at the London Clinic where she was operated on.

It is not known how long Kate will receive treatment, but it is understood she is keen to attend events when she is able, in accordance with medical advice, although this does not mean she will return to full-time work.

William will continue to balance supporting his wife and family with carrying out his official duties, as he has done since her surgery.

The prince is expected to return to public duties after his children return to school after the Easter holidays.

He and his wife will not attend the royal family’s traditional Easter Sunday service at Windsor Castle’s St George’s Chapel.

Buckingham Palace confirmed today that the King is expected to attend the service with Queen Camilla, but it is unlikely to be a large family gathering.

Charles has been receiving treatment for an unknown form of cancer since early February after being treated for an enlarged prostate at the same hospital where Kate underwent abdominal surgery.