Gayle King© Craig T Fruchtman/Getty Images
Insider reports claim resentment is brewing among CBS News staff towards star anchor Gayle King following her high-profile space trip last month.
As the TV personality enters contract renewal talks, the network grapples with sinking ratings, described by one employee as a “bloodbath” amid fears for job security.
This tumult comes in the wake of an $8 billion merger and a significant $20 billion lawsuit from Donald Trump pertaining to a 60 Minutes interview featuring former Vice President Kamala Harris last fall.
The resignation of CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon added to the chaos, as she stated in her farewell message to colleagues, “It’s become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward. It’s time to move on and for this organization to move forward with new leadership.”
Meanwhile Paramount Global, CBS’s parent company, is also dealing with the potential implications of its merger with Skydance Media which hinges on Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval regarding CBS’ broadcast licenses. Legal commentators widely view Trump’s lawsuit as unfounded, but it is believed the outcome could influence the merger’s progression.
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Bill Owens© Getty Images
Speaking to the Daily Mail, some CBS employees are painting a pretty dismal picture of their workplace, where tears, heated arguments over story assignments and fears of job losses are commonplace.
One staff member voiced particular concern about the recent all-women Blue Origin flight that featured prominent TV figure Gayle King, sharing their feeling that it “really hurt” the morale of the team, sparking resentment towards the 70-year-old anchor.
One inside source from 60 Minutes commented, “It’s marquee name after marquee name. People don’t want to say it out loud in the office but the entire space debacle really hurt us. Gayle being part of that is not a good look for our brand.”
The same source confessed, “I think a lot of people resent Gayle for that. I know I do.”
An Early Show producer expressed feelings of shame associated with their job, lamenting, “I almost feel like apologizing when I tell people where I work. I hate it here.”
Meanwhile, a 60 Minutes staffer compared the environment to a “sinking ship” outlining a grim outlook with their take, “We’re in the middle of a bloodbath.
“The axe is falling, people are leaving, no one knows what to do next. We’re all updating our resumes because it really feels like this is a sinking ship.”
Gayle King© Blue Origin/Youtube
The Daily Mail reported that an insider described office “fights” with people “arguing over everything and anything” including story coverage and conference room seating arrangements.
The tension escalated in April when Bill Owens, the executive producer of 60 Minutes, resigned due to concerns about editorial independence and his inability to “make independent decisions based on what was right for the audience.”
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The newspaper also reported that Lesley Stahl and Scott Pelley, longtime correspondents for 60 Minutes, are expected to be the next to leave following Wendy’s unexpected departure.
Meanwhile, Gayle, who has been hosting CBS Mornings for nearly 15 years, is facing contract renewal negotiations, according to sources cited by The New York Post.
Industry insiders have revealed that justifying Gayle’s $10 million salary is becoming increasingly difficult due to declining ratings for CBS Mornings.
The Post reports that Gayle’s annual salary was already reduced from $13 million to $10 million in 2024 when she signed a new one-year deal. “This could be Gayle’s last year,” a source told the Tiffany Network.
With Wendy now out of the picture, CBS News President Tom Cibrowski is trying to keep things running smoothly, but this could become more challenging if Gayle also decides to leave.
“Tom doesn’t have enough hands to plug the holes in the dam,” a CBS insider shared, adding that Gayle’s departure would add another layer of stress to the veteran program as it would present another problem to solve.
Wendy McMahon© Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Paramount is gearing up for another wave of significant budget reductions as early as next month, aiming to slash $500 million.
According to The Post, should the Skydance-Paramount deal succeed, it’s anticipated that Skydance’s new leadership will also implement cost-cutting measures.
“The first year of the merger will just be consolidation,” an insider shared with the publication.
The Express US has reached out to CBS News and a spokesperson for Gayle King for comment.
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