Stephen Colbert addresses controversial Kate remarks following cancer news

Stephen Colbert opened his show with a grovelling mea culpa, after previously weighing in on frenzied speculation about Kate’s personal life.

Stephen Colbert has backtracked on his controversial remarks about the Prince and Princess of Wales’ marriage, in light of Kate’s cancer diagnosis.

The Late Show host had joined the frenzied speculation about Kate’s whereabouts and welfare, joking during the March 13 episode of his show that it was linked to rumours about strife in her marriage.

Colbert appeared remorseful as he addressed the comments during Monday night’s show.

“We do a lot of shows. I tell a lot of jokes. I tell jokes about a lot of different things, mostly about what everybody is talking about,” he told the audience.

“For the last six weeks to two months, everybody has been talking about the mystery of Kate Middleton’s disappearance from public life. Two weeks ago, we did some jokes about that mystery.

“When I made those jokes, that upset some people … even before her diagnosis was revealed. I can understand that a lot of my jokes have upset people in the past and some of my jokes will upset people in the future, but there’s a standard that I try to hold myself to, and that is I do not make light of somebody else’s tragedy.”

Stephen Colbert addressed his controversial remarks.

Kate has revealed she is undergoing treatment for cancer.

Colbert went on to acknowledge the “harrowing” experience of those impacted by cancer.

“I don’t know if her prognosis is a tragic one … regardless of what it is, far too many of us know that any cancer diagnosis of any kind is harrowing for the patient and for their family,” he continued.

“Though I’m sure they don’t need it from me, I and everyone here at The Late Show would like to extend our well-wishes and heartfelt hope that her recovery is swift and thorough.”

However, many on social media pointed out that the host hadn’t actually apologised for his comments.

“No actual apology from Stephen Colbert to Kate Middleton,” one person wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Could Stephen Colbert be anymore [sic] of a jerk??? This is misleading rambling, NOT an apology of any kind,” another raged.

Others defended him, with one insisting: “Stephen Colbert handled this very well. And I’m glad that he didn’t apologise for his jokes. Because he doesn’t need to. Joking about public figures and what’s happening in the news is part of being a late night host.”

Colbert alluded to speculation about issues within the couple’s marriage. Picture: Aaron Chown/Pool/AFP

Colbert’s admission came as the panellists on popular US talk show The View also issued an on air apology for their own remarks about the Kate saga, which were made prior to the princess revealing on Friday that she is being treated for cancer.

Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, Alyssa Farah Griffin and Ana Navarro opened the episode by apologising to their co-host, Whoopi Goldberg, who had unsuccessfully attempted to shut down their speculation about Kate’s whereabouts during a previous segment.

“I felt awful. Whoopi was right. I’m guilty of having gotten into the fun of where’s Kate and thinking it’s funny and sharing the memes and playing into that,” Griffin said.

Navarro added: “For me, it was a learning moment, a teachable moment. The lesson I learned was: when Whoopi Goldberg tells me to mind my own damn business, I will mind my own damn business from now on.”

With the media frenzy surrounding Kate reaching fever pitch recently, the future queen finally broke her silence, sharing a deeply personal two-minute video detailing her cancer diagnosis and treatment on Friday, UK time.

The devastating admission quickly left many who had joined in the online furore filled with regret – including actress Blake Lively, who had taken advantage of the focus on Kate’s recent Photoshop blunder to promote her drinks brand.

The caption for the photo she posted, which was intentionally edited to make fun of the infamous picture scandal, said: “I’m so excited to share this new photo I just took today to announce our 4 new @bettybuzz & @bettybooze products! Now you know why I’ve been MIA.”

Following Kate’s heartbreaking admission, Lively deleted the post and posted an apology.

“I’m sure no one cares today but I feel like I have to acknowledge this. I made a silly post around the ‘photoshop fails’ frenzy, and oh man, that post has me mortified today,” she wrote. “I’m sorry. Sending love and well wishes to all, always.”