Stephen Colbert’s final episode of The Late Show was always going to be packed with celebrity appearances, emotional callbacks, and a little chaos. But one cameo in particular ended up drawing far more attention online than producers probably expected. Ryan Reynolds briefly appeared during the farewell episode Thursday night, and while the segment itself was short and intentionally goofy, many viewers immediately reacted negatively across social media.
The finale marked the end of a 33-year run for The Late Show franchise and Colbert’s own nearly 11-year stint as host. Throughout the episode, several celebrities popped up from the audience pretending they might become Colbert’s “last guest.” Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, Tim Meadows, and Tig Notaro all played along with the running joke before Paul McCartney was ultimately revealed as the real final guest of the night.
Reynolds entered during one of those audience bits. Colbert greeted him by joking that, despite his appearance, he would not actually be the final guest.
“Ryan, it’s great to see you, but I hate to tell you, you’re not my last guest,” Colbert said.
“Ouchie,” Reynolds replied before launching into a deliberately over-the-top compliment aimed at Colbert and the show’s keyboardist, Corey Bernhard. The Deadpool star then walked over to Bernhard, carrying bananas as a fake retirement gift, leaning into the absurd humor that has become part of his public persona over the years.
The audience inside the theater appeared amused, but online reactions were much harsher. A number of viewers questioned why Reynolds was included at all, especially given the recent backlash surrounding the ongoing legal battle involving Blake Lively and actor-director Justin Baldoni. Reynolds has been pulled into public discussion surrounding the dispute because of his support for Lively and his alleged involvement behind the scenes.
Some viewers on X complained that Reynolds’ appearance distracted from what should have been a sentimental sendoff for Colbert. Others argued that audiences have grown tired of Reynolds’ constant media presence and self-aware comedic style. Several posts simply expressed frustration that his cameo became one of the night’s biggest talking points instead of McCartney’s historic appearance.
Still, the criticism seemed less about the actual joke and more about Reynolds himself. The segment lasted only a few moments and fit the tone of the larger running gag throughout the episode. Paul Rudd also brought bananas during his appearance, and Tim Meadows jokingly stormed off stage, demanding them. The humor was intentionally silly and loosely improvised rather than a major centerpiece of the finale.
The emotional highlight of the night remained McCartney’s appearance. The Beatles’ legend walking onto the Ed Sullivan Theater stage carried symbolic weight, given that the Beatles famously made their American television debut in that same venue in 1964. McCartney later performed Hello, Goodbye to close the show, giving the finale a nostalgic ending that connected multiple generations of television history.
The episode also featured appearances from Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, John Oliver, Jon Stewart, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Elvis Costello in a bizarre pre-taped “wormhole” sketch about the collapse of late-night television. The surreal segment reflected Colbert’s trademark mix of satire, theatrical comedy, and self-awareness.
Outside the show itself, Donald Trump also weighed in after the finale aired, posting a harsh message criticizing Colbert and celebrating the show’s cancellation. That reaction added another layer of political attention to an episode that was already dominating online conversation.
