Stephen Colbert Says 'I Would Do It Again' After #FireColbert Backlash

CBS’ “The Late Show” host Stephen Colbert finally responded Wednesday to criticism on social media for his lewd comment slamming President Donald Trump that led to the creation of the hashtag "#FireColbert" and people calling to boycott companies that advertise on Colbert's show.

According to an early transcript released by CBS during the taping of Wednesday’s broadcast of “The Late Show” that was provided to Vulture.com, Colbert began his show by saying: “Welcome to “The Late Show.” I’m your host, Stephen Colbert. Still? I am still the host? I’m still the host!!”

Responding to social media criticism, he said “So while I would do it again, I would change a few words that were cruder than they needed to be.”

“I had a few choice insults for the president… I don’t regret that. He, I believe, can take care of himself. I have jokes; he has the launch codes. So, it’s a fair fight,” he continued.

Colbert has been under fire on social media since he made a vulgar joke about President Donald Trump that many of the president’s supporters called “homophobic.”

During his show Monday night, Colbert started his monologue by criticizing Trump for abruptly walking out of an interview with CBS News’ “Face the Nation” host John Dickerson. Dickerson is CBS’ new political director and is friends with Colbert.

"Sir, you attract more skinheads than free Rogaine," Colbert said criticizing the president. "You have more people marching against you than cancer. You talk like a sign language gorilla that got hit in the head. In fact, the only thing your mouth is good for is being Vladimir Putin's c--- holster,” he continued, even as the last bit was bleeped out during the telecast.

Trump supporters and fans of the show immediately took to social media to slam the famous host. While some called his comment lewd, others thought he went too far Monday night in making an oral-sex joke involving Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Some people on social media also demanded CBS fire him.

Fox News host Sean Hannity, himself subject to recent controversy, tweeted in support of Colbert, while still calling him a "horrible human being."

The hashtag “#FireColbert” was still trending on Twitter on Wednesday morning. A new Twitter account called @firecolbert tweeted: "It’s time to #FireColbert! It’s time he be removed from CBS." A new website called firecolbert.com has also come up.

Colbert began his show Monday night by poking fun at the president’s comments on his first 100 days in office. Trump called it a “ridiculous standard.”

“Trump has repeatedly said that this 100 days is totally arbitrary, okay. Totally unimportant. And to prove how unimportant it is, he took out a TV ad, he cut a cake on Air Force One, and he held a rally in Pennsylvania,” Colbert said.

“The theme of that rally, ‘Promises Made, Promises Kept.’ Which is better than the original slogan, ‘Promises made, never mind, never said it, fake news, watch Fox & Friends,’ ” he added.

Colbert then pointed out how the president walked out of the interview with Dickerson when he was asked whether he stands by his wiretapping accusations against former President Barack Obama. Trump’s response to the question during the earlier interview was replayed on Colbert’s show:

“I don’t stand by anything,” Trump told Dickerson.

That’s when Colbert said: “It’s true. He doesn’t stand by anything except the dressing room door at Miss USA Pageant. … Who needs a lotion?”

This was not the first time viewers wanted Colbert to be fired. In 2014, he was criticized on social media and a “#CancelColbert” hashtag was started after the host mocked Washington Redskins' owner Daniel Snyder's pro-Native American charity during a sketch on the show "The Colbert Report,” which used to be aired on Comedy Central at that time.

Colbert had said: "I am willing to show #Asian community I care by introducing the Ching-Chong Ding-Dong Foundation for Sensitivity to Orientals or Whatever.”