In a heartfelt and remorseful segment on the March 25 episode of "The Late Show," Stephen Colbert addressed the backlash he received for joking about Kate Middleton's disappearance from public life earlier this month, prior to her recent announcement of a cancer diagnosis. While stopping short of offering a direct apology for his jokes, Colbert expressed understanding for the upset they caused and admitted to the importance of not making light of someone else's tragedy.

Colbert began by acknowledging the popularity of his show and the nature of his jokes, stating, "We do a lot of shows. I tell a lot of jokes. I tell jokes about a lot of different things, mostly about what everybody is talking about." He referenced the weeks leading up to Middleton's diagnosis, when the mystery of her absence had become a topic of public conversation. Colbert explained, "Two weeks ago, we did some jokes about that mystery."

The late night host reflected on the criticism he had faced even before Middleton's diagnosis was revealed, saying, "When I made those jokes, that upset some people... I can understand that a lot of my jokes have upset people in the past and some of my jokes will upset people in the future, but there's a standard that I try to hold myself to, and that is I do not make light of somebody else's tragedy."

Expressing empathy for Middleton and her family, Colbert touched upon the gravity of a cancer diagnosis, regardless of the specific prognosis. He stated, "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."

Colbert's acknowledgment of the controversy came in response to jokes made on the March 13 episode of "The Late Show," linking Middleton's absence to rumors of her husband's alleged infidelity. The timing of the jokes, just weeks before Middleton's announcement, drew criticism from viewers and fellow celebrities alike.

Since Middleton's diagnosis, various celebrities, including Blake Lively, Jimmy Kimmel, and Jamie Lee Curtis, have expressed regret for their involvement in theorizing or joking about her whereabouts. Lively recently posted an apology on Instagram for mocking Middleton's "photoshop fails" before her cancer diagnosis was disclosed.

In the midst of the public speculation, Kimmel and Curtis voiced their support for Middleton's privacy and emphasized the need to divert attention to more significant matters. Curtis, in an Instagram post, stated, "This is a human being with young children, and clearly some sort of a health issue. That is a private matter. Do we not have better things to do and more important things to think about and be concerned about than this?"

Middleton herself shared her diagnosis in a video published on March 22. While initially believed to be non-cancerous, her abdominal surgery revealed the presence of cancer in her system. She stated that she is now in the "early stages" of preventative chemotherapy, without confirming the specific type of cancer she is facing.

As celebrities and the public reflect on the consequences of spreading rumors and making light of serious health issues, it serves as a reminder to exercise sensitivity and empathy when discussing personal tragedies, even in the realm of entertainment and comedy.