Latest news with #LesleyStahl
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Paramount gives Trump $16 million, no apology
Trump's feud with Paramount is over (for now, at least), and it ended about as expected. The broadcaster agreed to pay the president $16 million to settle his $20 billion suit against it, initially filed in October 2024 over a 60 Minutes segment the president claims was edited in Kamala Harris' favor, per The Hollywood Reporter. The settlement money will go towards Trump's presidential library. Paramount did maintain a small bit of dignity in its refusal to apologize to the president for the interview, which was one of his demands. The company did agree, however, to release transcripts of interviews with all presidential candidates after those interviews have aired. While apologizing may have made it a tiny bit worse, settling was still seen by many as the less palatable option. Paramount's own attorneys previously denounced the suit as a 'meritless assault on the First Amendment,' with multiple legal experts opining that it would surely have been dismissed had it gone to court. Rumors of the settlement also led to significant internal tension within CBS' ranks. High-ranking executives Bill Owens and Wendy McMahon both resigned in the months prior to today's announcement, citing loss of journalistic independence. 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl also told The New Yorker Radio Hour that she was 'beginning to think about mourning, grieving. But I'm holding out hope… I know there's going to be a settlement. I know there's going to be some money exchanged… And then we will hopefully still be around, turning a new page, and finding out what that new page is gonna look like.' So why did Paramount capitulate? As 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley said on-air after Bill Owens' departure, 'Our parent company, Paramount, is trying to complete a merger. The Trump administration must approve it.' We'll see if the settlement leads to FCC approval for that all-important merger with Skydance in the coming weeks and months. In the meantime, the Writers Guild of America East has derided the settlement as a 'transparent attempt to curry favors with an administration in the hopes it will allow Paramount Global and Skydance Media merger to be cleared for approval,' per a statement. 'Paramount's decision to capitulate to Trump threatens journalists' ability to do their job reporting on powerful public figures.' We'll also see if this settlement sets a precedent for how media bosses deal with Trump's inevitable future suits moving forward. More from A.V. Club 3 new songs and 3 new albums to check out this weekend Spoiler Space: Jurassic World Rebirth once again makes dinosaurs everyone's problem Alicia Silverstone screws the wrong boy toy in the terrible erotic thriller Pretty Thing
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
60 Minutes star tears up over $16M Trump settlement with CBS
The 60 Minutes correspondent whose interview with Kamala Harris sparked a high-profile lawsuit from President Donald Trump had tears in his eyes while addressing colleagues at a meeting following news of the company's decision to settle the case for $16million . During a Wednesday morning meeting with 60 Minutes staff, Bill Whitaker, 73, appeared 'teary-eyed as he spoke about the institution he loves,' Status reported. The meeting, with with CBS News President Tom Cibrowski and interim Executive Producer Tanya Simon, occurred just hours after parent company Paramount agreed to the multimillion-dollar settlement. Trump's lawsuit, seen by many experts as frivolous and sure to fail, claimed that Whittaker's October 2024 interview with Harris ahead of the presidential election was deceptively edited. Whittaker, described as 'quite somber' at Wednesday's meeting, was joined by fellow 60 Minutes correspondents Lesley Stahl and Sharyn Alfonsi in addressing the 'dispirited staff.' The pair expressed 'deep frustration and dismay' at the decision to settle a suit 'widely regarded across the legal community as absurd,' Status reported. The settlement was seen as necessary to complete Paramount's proposed $8billion media merger with Skydance, which requires approval by the Trump administration. Paramount brass had reportedly worried that any large settlement could be considered a bribe. At another meeting the same day, Paramount co-CEO George Cheeks defended the settlement. 'Look, companies often settle litigation to avoid the high and somewhat unpredictable cost of legal defense, the risk of an adverse judgment that could result in significant financial as well as reputational damage and the disruption to business operations that prolonged legal battles can cause,' he said, speaking to investors at Paramount's annual shareholder meeting. 'The concern is what happens next,' one 60 Minutes staffer told Status, of the prospect of shakeups at the network following the merger. 'Is this it? Or [does Skydance] say we are going to bring a new person in and start tinkering around with this show.'
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
The 60 Minutes star who wept after CBS settled Trump lawsuit for $16m
The 60 Minutes correspondent whose interview with Kamala Harris sparked a high-profile lawsuit from President Donald Trump had tears in his eyes while addressing colleagues at a meeting following news of the company's decision to settle the case for $16million. During a Wednesday morning meeting with 60 Minutes staff, Bill Whitaker, 73, appeared 'teary-eyed as he spoke about the institution he loves,' Status reported. The meeting, with with CBS News President Tom Cibrowski and interim Executive Producer Tanya Simon, occurred just hours after parent company Paramount agreed to the multimillion-dollar settlement. Trump's lawsuit, seen by many experts as frivolous and sure to fail, claimed that Whittaker's October 2024 interview with Harris ahead of the presidential election was deceptively edited. Whittaker, described as 'quite somber' at Wednesday's meeting, was joined by fellow 60 Minutes correspondents Lesley Stahl and Sharyn Alfonsi in addressing the 'dispirited staff.' The pair expressed 'deep frustration and dismay' at the decision to settle a suit 'widely regarded across the legal community as absurd,' Status reported. The settlement was seen as necessary to complete Paramount's proposed $8billion media merger with Skydance, which requires approval by the Trump administration. Paramount brass had reportedly worried that any large settlement could be considered a bribe. Whittaker was the one to preside over the Kamala Harris segment at the center of the just-settled lawsuit brought by Donald Trump At another meeting the same day, Paramount co-CEO George Cheeks defended the settlement. 'Look, companies often settle litigation to avoid the high and somewhat unpredictable cost of legal defense, the risk of an adverse judgment that could result in significant financial as well as reputational damage and the disruption to business operations that prolonged legal battles can cause,' he said, speaking to investors at Paramount's annual shareholder meeting. Cheeks also noted that the settlement did not include an apology to Trump, something the president had previously demanded. At the gathering with 60 Minutes staff, Cibrowski and Simon vowed to protect the show's editorial independence going forward. 'The concern is what happens next,' one 60 Minutes staffer told Status, of the prospect of shakeups at the network following the merger. 'Is this it? Or [does Skydance] say we are going to bring a new person in and start tinkering around with this show.' 'The institution could unravel,' the employee warned.
Daily Mail
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Report: 60 Minutes stars' insubordination against CBS News
The A-List stars of flagship CBS News program 60 Minutes have demanded the company appoint their pick for the show's next executive producer amid ongoing turmoil at the network. Correspondents Lesley Stahl, Scott Pelley, Bill Whitaker, Anderson Cooper , Sharyn Alfonsi, Jon Wertheim, and Cecilia Vega all signed a letter addressed to the co-chief executive of CBS parent company Paramount requesting that longtime 60 Minutes staffer Tanya Simon get the job. The journalists' request, sent last month, has so far go unanswered by Paramount co-CEO George Cheeks, Status reported. One staffer insisted that the high-profile correspondents' are deadly serious. 'There will be a revolt if it's not her,' the source told Status. Simon, described as a 'beloved leader' in the newsroom, has worked as 60 Minutes' interim executive producer since Bill Owens left back in April. She has spent her entire 26-year career at 60 Minutes, and all seven of the show's correspondents stand behind her. Owens - as well as former CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon - resigned after coming out against Paramount's bid to settle a $20 billion lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump claiming that an October 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris was 'deceptively edited.'60 Minutes Paramount has been pursuing a multibillion-dollar media merger with Skydance that would require approval by the Trump administration. Paramount brass believes any large settlement between the company and Trump could be considered a bribe to get the Skydance deal approved. Paramount heiress Shari Redstone doesn't appear to be supportive of Simon's appointment, Status reported. She remains frustrated with the show's coverage of Donald Trump and the Israel-Gaza war. Another 'likely' reason for Redstone's alleged hesitance is the looming deal with Skydance, staffers said. Simon's appointment could convince them to stay with 60 Minutes, while bringing in an outsider would make their exits 'appear far more likely,' Statues reported. On Wednesday, sources told the New York Post that David Ellison, 41, had become confident the $8 billion deal would close by the end of the summer.
Daily Mail
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
A-List 60 Minutes stars' shocking insubordination against CBS News bosses
The A-List stars of flagship CBS News program 60 Minutes have demanded the company appoint their pick for the show's next executive producer amid ongoing turmoil at the network. Correspondents Lesley Stahl, Scott Pelley, Bill Whitaker, Anderson Cooper, Sharyn Alfonsi, Jon Wertheim, and Cecilia Vega all signed a letter addressed to the co-chief executive of CBS parent company Paramount requesting that longtime 60 Minutes staffer Tanya Simon get the job. The journalists' request, sent last month, has so far go unanswered by Paramount co-CEO George Cheeks, Status reported. One staffer insisted that the high-profile correspondents' are deadly serious. 'There will be a revolt if it's not her,' the source told Status. Simon, described as a 'beloved leader' in the newsroom, has worked as 60 Minutes' interim executive producer since Bill Owens left back in April. She has spent her entire 26-year career at 60 Minutes, and all seven of the show's correspondents stand behind her. Owens - as well as former CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon - resigned after coming out against Paramount's bid to settle a $20 billion lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump claiming that an October 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris was 'deceptively edited.'60 Minutes 60 Minutes correspondents (from left to right) Sharyn Alfonsi, Jon Wertheim, Bill Whitaker, Lesley Stahl, Scott Pelley, Cecilia Vega, and Anderson Cooper all signed a letter addressed to the co-chief executive of CBS parent Paramount requesting that longtime 60 Minutes editor Tanya Simon get the job as executive producer Paramount has been pursuing a multibillion-dollar media merger with Skydance that would require approval by the Trump administration. Paramount brass believes any large settlement between the company and Trump could be considered a bribe to get the Skydance deal approved. Paramount heiress Shari Redstone doesn't appear to be supportive of Simon's appointment, Status reported. She remains frustrated with the show's coverage of Donald Trump and the Israel-Gaza war. Another 'likely' reason for Redstone's alleged hesitance is the looming deal with Skydance, staffers said. If approved, Skydance CEO David Ellison - the son of GOP backer Larry Ellison - may move the show in a different direction. The decision could determine the fate of stars like Stahl and Pelley, who are said to be weighing whether to stick around for another season. Simon's appointment could convince them to stay with 60 Minutes, while bringing in an outsider would make their exits 'appear far more likely,' Statues reported. Former 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens and ex-CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon (pictured) resigned after coming out against Paramount's bid to settle a $20 billion lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump claiming that an October 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris was 'deceptively edited' On Wednesday, sources told the New York Post that David Ellison, 41, had become confident the $8 billion deal would close by the end of the summer. His vision for 60 Minutes - still CBS News' ratings crown jewel - remains a concern for staffers, after he reportedly reached out to former New York Times editor and Free Press founder Bari Weiss for a potential high-profile gig with the network.
