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Colbert and Daft Punk: Did Stephen Colbert give away the group's surprise VMA appearance?

Stephen Colbert said Daft Punk would not be performing on his show because MTV had the rights to appearances by the group for a month before the VMAs. Instead, Stephen Colbert danced to the Daft Punk song 'Get Lucky' with other stars.

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Scott Gries/Comedy Central/AP
Stephen Colbert said Daft Punk wouldn't perform on his show because they'd be appearing at the VMA Awards later this month.
  • By Molly Driscoll Staff Writer

Did Stephen Colbert spill the beans on a surprise appearance by Daft Punk at the VMA Awards?

Comedian Colbert announced that the group Daft Punk would not be performing on his show “The Colbert Report” on Tuesday night because they would be performing on the MTV Video Music Awards on Aug. 25, according to Deadline.

The “Colbert” performance, which would have been part of the host’s series of band appearances known as “Colbchella,” was apparently canceled because MTV said they had the rights to any appearances by Daft Punk in the time before the VMAs.

The late-night host may have given away what would have been an unexpected entrance by Daft Punk during the awards. 

“Apparently, Daft Punk are going to make a surprise appearance on the MTV Video Music Awards,” Colbert said during the show. “Don’t tell anyone, because fun fact: No one told me until two o'clock yesterday.” 

“Blurred Lines” artist Robin Thicke performed his hit single on the “Report” instead.

Representatives for Daft Punk told UPI they didn’t give MTV exclusive rights to their performances in the time leading up to the VMAs.

Colbert joked about what he considered the absurdity of a group not being allowed to perform for such a stretch of time before the awards ceremony.

“If Daft Punk were on my show, people wouldn’t tune in to see them on the VMAs almost a month from now – that’s not how music works,” Colbert said. “You love a band, you see them once, then never want to see them again. That’s why after the Beatles went on ‘Ed Sullivan,’ they dropped off the face of the earth.”

The “Report” audience received a consolation prize of Colbert dancing to “Get Lucky” along with stars including late-night host Jimmy Fallon, “House” actor Hugh Laurie, actor Jeff Bridges, and "Breaking Bad" star Bryan Cranston, among others.

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