Trey Sherman, a former associate producer at CBS News, has raised serious accusations against his employer following his recent termination as part of a significant round of layoffs at Paramount Skydance, the parent company of CBS News. Sherman claims that the layoffs were racially motivated, alleging that all employees of color from his team were let go while their White counterparts were retained or reassigned within the company.
Sherman’s accusations came to light through a TikTok post where he expressed his frustration and disappointment regarding the layoffs. He stated, “I just got laid off from my job at CBS, and every producer on my team who got laid off is a person of colour. Every person who gets to stay and will be relocated within the company is a White person.” His revelations have sparked discussions about potential discrimination within the company.
Details of the Allegations
The former producer recounted how he began to suspect discrimination after individually asking his colleagues about their employment status. He discovered that all of his White colleagues had remained employed, contrasting starkly with the fate of the employees of color on his team. This prompted Sherman to confront his supervisor, seeking clarification on the rationale behind the layoffs. He claimed that the executive, who reportedly attempted to place him in another position, had misled him, asserting that the supervisor had “lied to his face.”
Sherman described a conversation where he challenged his supervisor’s explanation, questioning the coincidence of only White employees being retained. “You said that you couldn’t get us relocated, only to find out that you were able to get some people relocated, and they all happen to be White. Am I supposed to believe that that’s a coincidence? And he said ‘yes,’” Sherman recounted.
Company Response and Impact of Layoffs
Despite the gravity of Sherman’s claims, both CBS News and Paramount Skydance have not publicly commented on the allegations. Multiple media outlets seeking a response from the companies received no replies. The recent layoffs have reportedly affected approximately 100 employees in the news division, accompanied by the cancellation of two streaming programs, CBS Evening News and CBS Mornings. Additionally, the network’s Race and Culture Unit, established in July 2020, was disbanded as part of the cuts.
Sherman’s situation highlights ongoing concerns about diversity and equity in the workplace, particularly within large media organizations. As discussions surrounding race, employment, and corporate responsibility continue, the outcome of these allegations may have broader implications for CBS and its commitment to diversity in hiring practices.
While the network has yet to address these claims, the impact of such allegations could reverberate beyond individual cases, affecting public perception and trust in the company’s values.
