Stephen Colbert on Daft Punk Cancellation: What Really Happened

FUSE TV - Stephen Colbert on Daft Punk Cancellation: What Really Happened

Despite evidence suggesting otherwise, Daft Punk's super-hyped and ultimately canceled appearance on The Colbert Report was not a big publicity stunt for MTV's VMAs, says Colbert, even if both are owned by the same parent company, Viacom. 

In a podcast with Daily Show writer and comedian Paul Mecurio, Colbert explained the debacle, claiming that initial talks with the Parisian duo, weeks in advance of their planned appearance, proved very difficult. Daft Punk didn't want to perform or be interviewed because, well, they're robots that don't talk.

But Colbert still wanted Daft Punk on his show. So, as a workaround to the duo's inability to communicate on TV, he plotted with superstar friends like Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Jimmy Fallon and more to dance in a hilarious "Get Lucky" montage, which, Colbert hoped, might coax Daft Punk into performing. 

Colbert still planned an entire episode, regardless of Daft Punk's showing up: Robin Thicke would perform "Blurred Lines" and the star-studded montage would still play because anything music-related with Colbert is hilarious. (Remember his "Accidental Racist" spoof?)

Then, just hours before the show, Colbert says MTV pulled the plug, leading to a public evisceration of the exec who barred last Wednesday's appearance. Colbert says his higher-ups were cool with the disses. "All I've gotten from Comedy Central was: 'That was great,'" he said. 

"I found the whole thing to be joyful," he added. "We all said, 'Yippee! Look at what we get to do!"

HOWEVER, now VMAs executive producer Jesse Ignjatovic tells The Hollywood Reporter that it was Daft Punk's decision to skip The Colbert Report, not MTV's: "We don't put restrictions on anyone. I just think that we're talking to them about a moment and then things sort of change. I would not describe that as MTV putting restrictions on people—it was up to that artist and their management what they wanted to do."

Ball's in your court, Colbert.

Listen to the entire podcast below (Daft Punk talks start at 24:15):

Daft Punk, Jessica Simpson's Edible Beauty Product Line, Midge, Quibi

23m

Daft Punk, Jessica Simpson's Edible Beauty Product Line, Midge, Quibi

Varsity Punks

1h 41m

Varsity Punks

Richard Simmons Sweatin', HitClips, Colgate Dinners, MTV's Punk'd

23m

Richard Simmons Sweatin', HitClips, Colgate Dinners, MTV's Punk'd

What To Expect On Clash of the Corps

1m

What To Expect On Clash of the Corps

Don't Cancel Me With Amara La Negra

Don't Cancel Me With Amara La Negra

Say What?!?

24m

Say What?!?

Lena Waithe On Making What She Wants To See (Extended Cut)

17m

Lena Waithe On Making What She Wants To See (Extended Cut)

Have Beauty Standards for Women of Color Really Evolved?

5m

Have Beauty Standards for Women of Color Really Evolved?

What a Bummer

47m

What a Bummer

What Do I Do

41m

What Do I Do

Mahalia Takes A Lie Detector Test: Was She Really A Bad Roommate?

9m

Mahalia Takes A Lie Detector Test: Was She Really A Bad Roommate?

What's In Your Fridge: Smino

1m

What's In Your Fridge: Smino

Cipha Sounds What's Ur Thing?

Cipha Sounds What's Ur Thing?

What It Do? Weezy & Rory

10m

What It Do? Weezy & Rory

What's It Gonna Be, Boys?

21m

What's It Gonna Be, Boys?

What's In Your Fridge: Dumbfoundead

2m

What's In Your Fridge: Dumbfoundead

What's In Your Fridge: Tinashe

1m

What's In Your Fridge: Tinashe

Mario Lopez: One On One

Mario Lopez: One On One

What's In Your Fridge: Omar Apollo

1m

What's In Your Fridge: Omar Apollo

What The Hell Does Latinx Mean?

13m

What The Hell Does Latinx Mean?

What's In Your Fridge: G-Eazy

57s

What's In Your Fridge: G-Eazy

What's In Your Fridge: Joyce Wrice

2m

What's In Your Fridge: Joyce Wrice

What's In Your Fridge: Guapdad 4000

1m

What's In Your Fridge: Guapdad 4000

What's In Your Fridge: Maria Isabel

1m

What's In Your Fridge: Maria Isabel

Salem Ilese Takes A Lie Detector Test: Why Is She Really "Mad At Disney"?

5m

Salem Ilese Takes A Lie Detector Test: Why Is She Really "Mad At Disney"?

Bhad Bhabie Takes A Lie Detector Test: Did She Really Make Millions From OnlyFans?

9m

Bhad Bhabie Takes A Lie Detector Test: Did She Really Make Millions From OnlyFans?

LGBTQIA Community, What Is The New Norm?

6m

LGBTQIA Community, What Is The New Norm?

What's In Your Fridge: A$AP Ferg

2m

What's In Your Fridge: A$AP Ferg

What Not To Ask A Trans Woman

1m

What Not To Ask A Trans Woman

I Played One on TV

46m

I Played One on TV

Sake One

10m

Sake One

Game On!

20m

Game On!

Game On

1h 38m

Game On

One Take Jake

20m

One Take Jake

On Call LA

43m

On Call LA

Who's On Top?

1h 13m

Who's On Top?

On Call Miami

44m

On Call Miami

One Busy Queen

21m

One Busy Queen

Chew On This

44m

Chew On This

On Call NYC

44m

On Call NYC

Leaning On Lena

20m

Leaning On Lena

What The Hell Are We? Are We Living In A Simulation?

18m

What The Hell Are We? Are We Living In A Simulation?

Rapper Rich Quick Performs "Nice Guy" On 'Dancin' On Air'

3m

Rapper Rich Quick Performs "Nice Guy" On 'Dancin' On Air'

What Does The Transcendent Star Look For In A Man: Dear Bambiana

1m

What Does The Transcendent Star Look For In A Man: Dear Bambiana

Freaky On The Floor

22m

Freaky On The Floor

Eyes On The Prize

22m

Eyes On The Prize

Putting It On Wax

23m

Putting It On Wax

Fire On The Floor

22m

Fire On The Floor

All Hands on Deck

20m

All Hands on Deck

Clean Up Aisle One

46m

Clean Up Aisle One

Battle on the Catwalk

45m

Battle on the Catwalk

Bougie On A Budget

2m

Bougie On A Budget

Is Everyone on Drugs?

20m

Is Everyone on Drugs?

Eye On The Prize

44m

Eye On The Prize

Freedia's Twerk On Washington

21m

Freedia's Twerk On Washington

Gym Shorts on Runway

41m

Gym Shorts on Runway

Silly String Is Illegal in What US City!? Comedians React to Strange Laws

6m

Silly String Is Illegal in What US City!? Comedians React to Strange Laws

Abuela on the Dance Floor

12m

Abuela on the Dance Floor

The Show Must Go On

20m

The Show Must Go On

Bougie on a Budget Music Video

2m

Bougie on a Budget Music Video

T-Pain Gets Schooled On Genetics

1m

T-Pain Gets Schooled On Genetics

Cody Spells Out Love On The Field

1m

Cody Spells Out Love On The Field

Desus & Mero On Recognizing their Social Responsibility

10m

Desus & Mero On Recognizing their Social Responsibility

DJ Eclipse's Vinyl Collection on Crate Diggers

13m

DJ Eclipse's Vinyl Collection on Crate Diggers

DJ Scratch's Vinyl Collection on Crate Diggers

14m

DJ Scratch's Vinyl Collection on Crate Diggers

We All Have That One Family Member...

3m

We All Have That One Family Member...

Is Nya A Baller On The Low?

51s

Is Nya A Baller On The Low?

All the Focus is on the Diamonds

21m

All the Focus is on the Diamonds

Dikembe Mutombo on Adidas at Sneaker Con

5m

Dikembe Mutombo on Adidas at Sneaker Con

Kev On Stage Makes Shrimp Fried Rice

20m

Kev On Stage Makes Shrimp Fried Rice

Freedia's Manager Drops a Unexpected Bomb on Her...

3m

Freedia's Manager Drops a Unexpected Bomb on Her...

On the Road With G-Thing: Deleted Scene

2m

On the Road With G-Thing: Deleted Scene

Bishop Briggs On Her First American Dating Experience

2m

Bishop Briggs On Her First American Dating Experience

Nopalito On Telling Raw & Authentic Stories Through Photography

7m

Nopalito On Telling Raw & Authentic Stories Through Photography

Clark Should Have An S On His Chest

2m

Clark Should Have An S On His Chest

The Transcendent Star On Donald Trump: Dear Bambiana

1m

The Transcendent Star On Donald Trump: Dear Bambiana

Chika On Building Community Through Her Music (Extended)

14m

Chika On Building Community Through Her Music (Extended)

1000 On How Resilience & Consistency Launched His Rap Career

9m

1000 On How Resilience & Consistency Launched His Rap Career

Donnell Rawlings On His First Comedy Show & "Ashy Larry"

4m

Donnell Rawlings On His First Comedy Show & "Ashy Larry"

On Set At The Transcendent Season 2 Promo Shoot

1m

On Set At The Transcendent Season 2 Promo Shoot

Rene Casamalhuapa aka Doc on Following His "Untraditional" Path

7m

Rene Casamalhuapa aka Doc on Following His "Untraditional" Path

Anthony Ramos On 'The Good & The Bad' (Extended Cut)

12m

Anthony Ramos On 'The Good & The Bad' (Extended Cut)

Blue Devils' Javier Astorga & Friends Discuss Paths On Hiking Adventure

1m

Blue Devils' Javier Astorga & Friends Discuss Paths On Hiking Adventure

Wale Rates Nigerian Dishes while Reminiscing on His Family Roots

10m

Wale Rates Nigerian Dishes while Reminiscing on His Family Roots

Surgeon Dr. Crane Talks Breast Surgery, Focus On Trans Community

1m

Surgeon Dr. Crane Talks Breast Surgery, Focus On Trans Community

Young M.A On The Struggle of Giving Up Meat

9m

Young M.A On The Struggle of Giving Up Meat

The Last 24 Hours: Amy Winehouse

1h 1m

The Last 24 Hours: Amy Winehouse

The Last 24 Hours: Elvis Presley

58m

The Last 24 Hours: Elvis Presley

'Hollywood Puppet Shitshow' First Date: Amanda Cerny Meets Herself on Strings

1m

'Hollywood Puppet Shitshow' First Date: Amanda Cerny Meets Herself on Strings

Dancin' On Air Producer Once Told Madonna to Clean Her Mess

1m

Dancin' On Air Producer Once Told Madonna to Clean Her Mess

Ne-Yo On Leading By Example With His Album, Good Man

4m

Ne-Yo On Leading By Example With His Album, Good Man

Liam Payne On His Debut Album and Journey To Solo Stardom

3m

Liam Payne On His Debut Album and Journey To Solo Stardom

Free The Robots Reveals Where He Found One of His Rarest Records

1m

Free The Robots Reveals Where He Found One of His Rarest Records

Kiana Ledé Does ASMR with Takis, Talks Staying Grounded & Favorites On “KIKI”

10m

Kiana Ledé Does ASMR with Takis, Talks Staying Grounded & Favorites On “KIKI”

Young M.A On Her First Time Directing An Adult Film & More

1m

Young M.A On Her First Time Directing An Adult Film & More

Princess Nokia Does ASMR, Talks "I Like Him" Going Viral on TikTok & More

9m

Princess Nokia Does ASMR, Talks "I Like Him" Going Viral on TikTok & More

The Canvas LA: Spotlight Fern Shares How Starting On Tumblr Turned Into Inspiring People

9m

The Canvas LA: Spotlight Fern Shares How Starting On Tumblr Turned Into Inspiring People

Cobra Starship

22m

Cobra Starship

Wolf Tyla & Her Manager Take A Lie Detector Test: Did She Write On "Simon Says?"

5m

Wolf Tyla & Her Manager Take A Lie Detector Test: Did She Write On "Simon Says?"

Jello Biafra's Vinyl Collection

13m

Jello Biafra's Vinyl Collection

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