Stephen Colbert addressed his previous joke about Kate Middleton and Prince William after learning about the Princess of Wales' cancer.

The "Late Night Show" host recently received intense backlash for bringing back Prince William's rumored affair with Rose Hanbury amid Middleton's months-long absence. It turned out that the Duchess of Cambridge was silently battling cancer, and Colbert extended his well-wishes to the royal mom of three without apologizing for his jokes about her husband's alleged infidelity.

"There's a standard that I try to hold myself to, and that is I do not make light of somebody else's tragedy," Colbert said on Monday's episode, per Deadline. "Far too many of us know that any cancer diagnosis of any kind is harrowing for the patient and for their family."


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," he added.

Colbert received another round of scrutiny from the netizens for failing to apologize. Many even slammed the host for his behavior.

"He missed off the most important part -- an actual APOLOGY!" one commented.

Another added, "Of course, no apologies. Guys like him never apologize. That's what makes them so awful."

"But no apology ... Stephen Colbert expresses regret about cruel jokes towards Princess Kate," a third person wrote.

"Who is he kidding? Colbert is a hatemonger. @Stephen Colbert addresses backlash to Kate Middleton jokes, but stops short of apology," a fourth person added.

"He's a douchebag, what else is new?" a different user opined.

"I posted his monologue.. it was pure slander.. defamation.. libel.. he was making fun in what to pronounce Chumley.. he didn't make light of the rumor he was peddling [which] was so obvious he got it [from] Harkles.. either a direct call [from] Harold or Megles," another claimed.


Meanwhile, several users defended Colbert from the negative comments. According to one netizen, the headline of one report was "misleading" because "what he said was gracious and respectful."

"No apology is necessary. He's a comedian. The rf had so many options to keep this whole thing from spiraling. Cancer SUCKS, but it's not a dirty little secret. A short press release would've prevented ALL OF THIS," another wrote.

"Colbert doesn't need to apologize to photoshop-loving Kate. Having cancer doesn't give Kkkate a pass for being racist or putting out photoshop pics," a third person opined.

"He should not have to. It is his profession, and his jokes were based on current media speculation. @StephenAtHome didn't start the rumors, or was he the first to publish them. He just reiterated them with his own witty style. It's quite presumptive to expect a formal apology," a different user added.

"Oh, sweetie. Here in the USA, he has [the] freedom to joke about her. It happened because those working on her behalf engaged in fraud. I'd love to see discovery if any of them sue him," another commenter said.

Piers Morgan, an English broadcaster, journalist, writer and TV personality, also called out Colbert for his recent statement. According to Morgan, it was "pathetically disingenuous" after the American comedian cracked some jokes about the Princess of Wales' disappearance.

"Putting aside the fact that the gossip was untrue, why the hell was Colbert choosing that moment to repeat it anyway?" Morgan stated. "His pitiful excuse for a non-apology last night, in which he didn't say sorry, suggested that it was only once Kate's illness turned out to be cancer that his 'jokes' became something he should feel bad about."


Tags
Kate Middleton, Stephen Colbert