CNN staff angry at WarnerMedia CEO over network chief resignation
3 Min Read
The rough 40-minute meeting entailed overwhelming questions for WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar after CNN's Jeff Zucker resigned.
-
Zucker resigned as head of CNN after an undisclosed relationship with an executive (Reuters)
CNN employees are confused and frustrated over the resignation of the Network's CEO Jeff Zucker. Employees pounced on WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar on Wednesday in a forty-minute meeting demanding to know why he was forced to resign.
Zucker shocked the world of media when he announced his resignation from CNN, which he'd been leading since 2013. The resignation was due to an undisclosed romantic relationship with Allison Gollust, the chief marketing officer for CNN.
The issue of the relationship was brought up in the wake of Chris Cuomo's investigation last year.
"I acknowledged the relationship evolved in recent years. I was required to disclose it when it began and I didn't. I was wrong. As a result, I am resigning today," he said.
CNN's chief political correspondent Dana Bash reported that along with colleagues, Zucker's punishment "didn't fit the crime."
According to Kilar, Zucker resigned on his own and the investigation into his predicament was complete. He cited values over business concerns and denied any personal motives.
He added that the "majority" of the investigation was undertaken by an outside law firm. He expressed a commitment that "this was carefully thought through in terms of every scenario, every possibility, and in the end, this is the decision that I came to, and I am comfortable with the decision."
Kilar, at the beginning of the meeting, said he could not answer questions in too much detail. He asked staff not to "lose focus at what is literally staring us in the face," referring to the upcoming launch of CNN+.
Kilar also referred to another investigation during the meeting, Chris Cuomo's, who was fired for his involvement in helping his brother Andrew Cuomo's sexual misconduct allegations.
Bad guy winning
CNN anchor Jake Tapper questioned how the network could brush off future accusations that Cuomo drove Zucker out.
"An outside observer might say, 'Well, looks like Chris Cuomo succeeded. He threatened. Jeff said we don't negotiate with terrorists. And Chris blew the place up."
The main concern of staff was the struggle of the network to survive without Zucker.
"For those of us who've been here longer than Jeff Zucker, one of the things that makes it a bitter pill is it's nice to have the captain of the ship. Because some of us have been through periods of time where this aircraft carrier has spun like a top," said CNN anchor John King.
On Wednesday, CNN execs were named as interim co-heads for CNN until CNN merged with Discovery.
Executive Michael Bass led the 9 am editorial, which Zucker led for years, saying " “You can’t replace Jeff. It’s not possible."
