Speaking with his former executive producer, Barbara Gaines, in a YouTube video Friday, Letterman called the axing of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert “pure cowardice” and said he doesn’t believe the official line from CBS that the decision was purely about economics (the show has reportedly become a money-loser for the network).

In a blistering segment this week, the 'Daily Show' host criticized his show's parent company for abruptly canceling the long-running late-night franchise.