'This very particular brand of evil has infected that country': Stephen Colbert cancels trip to New Zealand following Christchurch massacre
He was scheduled to visit New Zealand this week.
But now comedian Stephen Colbert has canceled the trip following the Christchurch terrorist attack that left 50 people dead.
The Late Show host announced on Monday's show that he was putting the plans on hold for now, explaining that it wasn't the right time.
'I just love that country': Stephen Colbert has canceled a scheduled trip to New Zealand following the Christchurch terrorist attack. (Pictured: Jacinda Ardern and Stephen Colbert)
'I just love that country,' he said. 'I was down there almost ten years ago... If you've never been, go. It's one of the most beautiful places in the world and the people there are unbelievably kind and welcoming.
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'Obviously we're not going to go down now but we hope to go down in the future and again, we want to say to everyone down there how sad and heartbroken we are for what that country is going through.
'For one of the hallmarks of New Zealand and one of the things I have always thought of, is it's this wonderful, isolated country so far away from the problems we take for granted here north of the equator.'
'Obviously we're not going to go down now': The Late Show host announced on Monday's show that he was putting the plans on hold for now, explaining that it wasn't the right time
He continued: 'And now this very particular brand of evil has infected that country like a ghost, something you wouldn't imagine.
'Truly, an evil creature has arrived on that island. I pray with all my heart that they take the action down there and have the courage to take action that we seem to lack up here in the United States.
'Good luck to them and blessings and peace to the Muslim community there and everywhere in the world.'
Colbert was invited to New Zealand last year after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern guested on his show back in September.
Flashback: Colbert was invited to New Zealand last year after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (pictured) guested on his show back in September
According to Variety, Colbert was planning to arrive in New Zealand 'unannounced' with a small crew.
The NZ Herald reports that the comedian could still come to the country in the future, but there are no concrete plans as of now.
Australian-born Brenton Tarrant, 28, has been charged with murder over the mass shootings that killed 50 people in Christchurch, New Zealand on Friday.
He faces an 'unprecedented' life sentence, as the death penalty was abolished in New Zealand in 1961.
'Good luck to them and blessings and peace to the Muslim community there and everywhere in the world,' Colbert said on his show
