Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

Arts & Entertainment

Stephen Colbert Is A Bowling Green Massacre Truther


By

Ben Yakas

Published Feb 7, 2017

Modified Feb 7, 2017


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .


By

Ben Yakas

Published Feb 7, 2017

Modified Feb 7, 2017


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

While he didn't cock an eyebrow up to the heavens or start addressing the Colbert Nation, Stephen Colbert did conjure up the spirit of The Colbert Show last night as he channeled some of that signature sardonic wit to disassemble the bullshit of the current Trump administration.

"I was not going to talk about this story, because it happened last Thursday, and the crazy train has gone way down the tracks since then, and I figured this tired hobo just missed his chance to jump in the box car. But today the president gave me a reason to talk about it, so here's the deal," Colbert said, introducing the now-infamous clip of Kellyanne Conway chiding the media for not covering the legendary Bowling Green massacre. "Yes it didn't get covered—on the flimsy excuse that there was no Bowling Green massacre. But I think we all remember where we weren't were when we didn't hear that nothing had happened."

Sure, Conway claims it was all an innocent mistake, but she repeated the claim about the massacre to three separate outlets on different occasions. All this confusion led Colbert to demand answers to unanswerable questions: "I say they need to present both sides of the story: the things that did happen and the things that didn't happen. Then let the victims of the Bowling Green massacre decide if they were killed. So far, not one of them has come forward."

"Now I don't want to jump to any conclusions—just because it didn't happen doesn't mean it wasn't an inside job," he said. "If America isn't going to be attacked, who is most likely not to do it? Us." Watch below as Colbert gets tied up in a linguistic Gordian Knot.

Tagged

bowling green massacre

late show with stephen colbert

stephen colbert

television

tv


Ben Yakas

Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE arts-entertainment

On HBO's “The Gilded Age,” Ben Ahlers is New York high society’s man of the hour

The actor plays Jack Trotter, a fictional inventor of an impressive alarm clock. He’s developed an enthusiastic following.

By

Sonia Rao

Published Nov 5, 2026


Bowling, burgers and civilian housing: Life on the Fort Hamilton Army installation

We went behind the gates to see what's happening on the leafy plot beneath the Verrazzano Bridge.

By

James Ramsay

Arts & Entertainment

Bowling, burgers and civilian housing: Life on the Fort Hamilton Army installation

We went behind the gates to see what's happening on the leafy plot beneath the Verrazzano Bridge.

By

James Ramsay


When turning back the clock means going under an NYC sidewalk

By

Hannah Frishberg

Yes, Stevie Wonder is playing MSG. No, you can't afford tickets. See these shows instead.

By

Hank Shteamer

'The Muppets Take Manhattan' in Queens and more November films in NYC

By

Emma Stefansky


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .