Former liberal late-night host Stephen Colbert had to be kicked out of an event at Harvard after someone pulled a fire alarm as hundreds of union protesters shouted outside to denounce his decision to cross their picket line and give a speech at the school, according to reports.
Cellist Yo-Yo Ma took the stage with Colbert on Thursday despite calls from the Harvard Graduate Student Union urging them to cancel in solidarity.
Despite protests, union members denied responsibility for the action that raised alarm bells.
“The alarm was not related to HGSU picketing activities and we have no knowledge of its cause,” HGSU wrote in a statement on social media..
“Picket members were relieved to learn that no one inside was at risk,” the statement continued.
The union hoped that Colbert — who stood with protesters during the 2023 Writers Guild strike and co-founded Strike Force Five — and Yo Yo Ma, a Harvard graduate, would avoid crossing the picket line.
Even before the alarm, the celebrities’ appearance was disrupted by union activists chanting and demonstrating directly outside the room, making it difficult to hear the speakers.
The fire alarm forced organizers to pull the plug during the question-and-answer portion of the conference and escort Colbert out of the room.
HGSU has been on strike since October 27, demanding a fair contract that includes pay increases and protections for non-citizens as well as harassment and discrimination.
Since the start of the strike, postgraduate courses have not been taught.
The union said Colbert was repeatedly warned that it would consider his appearance as crossing its picket lines.
“HGSU-UAW sent several formal communications to Colbert and Ma’s teams well in advance of the event stating that due to the ongoing strike, the building in which their event would be held would be one with an active picket and that we were encouraging them to move their event to an off-site location or virtually, reschedule the event, or cancel it in order to avoid crossing the picket line,” the union wrote on Instagram..
“Colbert and Ma’s respective unions, SAG-AFTRA and the Boston Musicians’ Association, have also contacted them on our behalf with the same request,” the statement continued.
“They continued the event inside regardless of the picket line and refused to speak to union members as they left the event. In other words, they crossed our picket line.”
John Green, an American author and YouTuber, stood in solidarity with HGSU and changed his schedule to accommodate the strike.
“They’re on strike and I had to move something so I didn’t cross a picket line,” he said in an interview posted on HGSU’s Instagram..
“It was an easy decision…it wasn’t a hard decision for me. I’m sorry I had to do it over Zoom,” he continued.
“But I also regret that student workers are forced to strike against the richest university in the world.”
He donated proceeds from the event to the union, according to the Boston Globe..
The Harvard Graduate Student Union and representatives for Yo Yo Ma and Stephen Colbert did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
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