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Stephen Colbert ratings grow thanks to #FireColbert backlash

Colbert has beaten Jimmy Fallon in the ratings for 14 consecutive weeks

Jack Shepherd
Wednesday 10 May 2017 09:39 BST
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Stephen Colbert explains his anti-Trump monologue, saying he 'would do it again'

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Following minor outrage over an apparently ‘homophobic’ joke, some Tweeters began calling on CBS to fire their anti-Donald Trump late night host Stephen Colbert.

Soon after — to many people's disgust — the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced they will be looking into complaints.

However, despite the controversy, Colbert’s rating have increased since the hashtag #FireColbert began trending on Monday.

According to CNN, an average of 2.8 million people watched the episode in which joked the only thing Trump's “mouth is good for is being Vladimir Putin’s c**k holster” in his opening monologue.

On Tuesday, 3.3 million viewers tuned in, an increase of 18 percent, and 22 percent on the week prior. Over the week, an average of 3.06 million tuned in, 12 percent up from the week before, according to Nielsen data.

The remarkable week marks another ratings win for Colbert: for the past fourteen consecutive weeks, The Late Show has beaten its closest rival, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

​Colbert addressed the controversy during his show, saying he would have changed “a few words that were cruder than they needed to be.”

The Late Show host has consistently mocked the Trump administration, reviving past alter-egos to mock the President and bringing Jon Stewart back to comment on the situation.

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