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Viewers called for a CBS boycott during the 79th Tony Awards, criticizing the network for several controversies in recent months. The backlash started soon after the awards show began on CBS and Paramount+.
Complaints arose over a musical number of rapper Megan Thee Stallion, who was introduced by a young cast member from Broadway's Ragtime. Some viewers objected to the performance for moral reasons, while others criticized the network's overall editorial choices.
One viewer posted on X that CBS was "too late to bleep" a curse word from Megan Thee Stallion during the live broadcast. Others were frustrated by what they saw as inconsistency, criticizing CBS for censoring parts of the performance while allowing other content to air unchanged.
Some reactions went beyond the performance. Several viewers expressed wider dissatisfaction with CBS News, mentioning the network's recent settlement with U.S. President Donald Trump's legal team and the firing of longtime journalist Scott Pelley from 60 Minutes.
Pelley, who worked at CBS News for 37 years and was managing editor and anchor of 60 Minutes for 22 years, recently received a termination letter from the show's new executive producer, Nick Bilton. Before leaving, Pelley reportedly accused CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss of undermining the program.
Weiss, who founded The Free Press, became editor-in-chief last October after billionaire David Ellison acquired CBS's parent company, Paramount. Since then, Weiss has faced criticism for several editorial decisions, such as temporarily shelving a 60 Minutes segment about Venezuelan migrants held at CECOT, a prison in El Salvador accused of inhumane conditions. The segment aired almost a month later.
CBS has not issued a public response to the boycott calls.
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