Skydance Pledges To Dismantle DEI At Paramount For $8 Billion Merger Approval
Company commits to “unbiased journalism” and diversity of viewpoints amid Trump Administration’s executive orders.
Skydance Media, the entertainment company nearing an $8 billion acquisition of Paramount Global, has formally assured the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that it will eliminate all Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies and practices at Paramount as part of its bid to secure merger approval from the Trump administration.
In a letter addressed to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr on Tuesday, a representative for Skydance explicitly committed to dismantling Paramount’s existing DEI programs. This move directly aligns with President Donald Trump’s January executive order, which mandates federal agencies to “enforce our long-standing civil-rights laws and to combat illegal private-sector DEI preferences, mandates, policies, programs, and activities.”
Paramount and its subsidiary, CBS News, had already begun terminating their DEI initiatives earlier this year, following the executive order and a significant lawsuit. The lawsuit, filed by a former employee, alleged unlawful discrimination, claiming they were repeatedly overlooked for promotions in favor of less-experienced candidates from minority groups. Paramount and CBS News settled this lawsuit.
The FCC filing details the elimination of several DEI practices, including:
- Setting “aspirational goals related to hiring female employees and employees of color.”
- Awarding annual bonuses partly based on “progress against DEI goals.”
- Establishing minimum spend requirements for “diverse” suppliers and vendors.
- Maintaining an Office of Global Inclusion dedicated to promoting DEI within the company.
Skydance general counsel Stephanie Kyoko McKinnon stated in the filing, “The company is committed to ensuring that its storytelling reflects the many audiences and communities it serves in a manner that complies with non-discrimination requirements and other applicable laws.”
This strategic shift by Skydance reflects a broader trend among major corporations responding to the Trump administration’s policies. Earlier in July, T-Mobile announced it would “no longer have any individual roles or teams focused on DEI,” and in May, Verizon similarly stated it was scrapping its DEI programs.
Beyond the elimination of DEI programs, Skydance has also pledged to promote “unbiased journalism” and a “diverse array of viewpoints on television” under the proposed merger. This commitment follows a $36 million payment from Paramount to President Donald Trump, settling a lawsuit in which the president alleged CBS manipulated former Vice President Kamala Harris’ “60 Minutes” interview prior to the 2024 election.
To further address concerns of bias, Skydance has committed to establishing an ombudsman position for a minimum of two years. This ombudsman will be responsible for reviewing any complaints of bias related to CBS reporting.
“After consummation of the proposed transaction, New Paramount’s new management will ensure that the company’s array of news and entertainment programming embodies a diversity of viewpoints across the political and ideological spectrum, consistent with the varying perspectives of the viewing audience,” McKinnon affirmed in the filing. The FCC’s decision on the $8 billion merger is now pending.
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