'Late Show' Host Colbert Apologizes For 'Virtual Milwaukee' Tour

WAUWATOSA, WI—"Late Show" host Stephen Colbert apologized Tuesday night after sharing a virtual tour of Milwaukee last week on his show during the Democratic National Convention.

In Colbert's virtual Milwaukee tour, he spoke with an inaccurate Midwestern drawl and relied on typical Milwaukee associations such as beer, brats and the statue of the Bronze Fonz (whose character was from "Happy Days," set in Milwaukee).

He added a 24-hour livestream of yeast fermentation, an abandoned factory and mall, the "most segregated neighborhoods" in America.

"Apparently actual Milwaukee didn't care for it. Locals news outlets called it insulting," Colbert said.

Colbert noted one headline that read, in part, "Watch Stephen Colbert take a dump on our city."

He admitted he felt bad that the city lost valuable revenue after the DNC canceled its 2020 convention there due to the coronavirus pandemic. What was originally intended to be a big celebration in Milwaukee was entirely virtual.

Instead of a city inundated with throngs of political leaders, delegates, workers, supporters, demonstrators and security nearly 50,000 in number, Milwaukee hosted the convention in name only. Milwaukee was expected to bring in $200 million until the convention was made virtual.

"They were expected to bring all that into Milwaukee and lost it through no fault of their own," Colbert said.

The talk show host addressed Milwaukee in the "official language of the Midwest: the polite apology."

"Hey, Milwaukee, I'm really sorry," he said.

Colbert explained it is his show and takes full responsibility for everything that is put on the air —except for the virtual tour of Milwaukee, for which he happily threw a writer from Madison under the bus.

He remarked there is "so much to love about Milwaukee," such as the obvious things such as cheese and beer, and the combination of both in a soup.

"There is also so much to do in the city when you are simultaneously drunk and full," he said.

Colbert said Milwaukee has museums and the Milwaukee Bucks and Brewers.

The Milwaukee Brewers tweeted at Colbert after his virtual Milwaukee tour aired.

"Burned brats are a travesty and our fans would never let that happen! How about you join us for a real tailgate when we can host fans again? We’re sure we can arrange a real brewery tour as well," the tweet read.

Colbert joked that is how nice Milwaukeeans are: "You insult them, and they invite you to a baseball game."

He agreed to come to Miller Park once it is safe but with one caveat: Colbert insisted he gets to run in the famous sausage races.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett got in on the fun with a tweet.

Thank you for your apology, @colbertlateshow. Milwaukee cannot wait to host you in the City of Festivals for a @Brewers game on America's Fresh Coast. I do have one question for you... Which Racing Sausage will you pick?"

If you want to learn more about Milwaukee, go to the Visit Milwaukee website.