CNN and its parent company Warner Bros. Discovery are currently facing a significant development following the recent dismissal of CEO Chris Licht.
The company is now preparing for arbitration with former host Chris Cuomo, who has filed a $125 million claim asserting wrongful termination in 2021. As part of the proceedings in New York, previously undisclosed text messages have emerged, revealing attempts by CNN’s parent company, then known as WarnerMedia, to leverage the news network’s close relationship with former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is Chris Cuomo’s brother, to further Warner’s commercial interests.
The text messages in question date back to September 22, 2020 and involve Governor Cuomo and Allison Gollust, who was CNN’s chief marketing officer at the time. Gollust had previously worked in the governor’s office before joining CNN, and she maintained regular contact with him, assisting in securing appearances on CNN shows and resolving scheduling conflicts with other networks.
While Gollust primarily focused on supporting CNN’s programming efforts, on that particular day, she crossed into the realm of advocating for the business interests of WarnerMedia, CNN’s parent company.
In a text message to the governor, Gollust requested his intervention in a conversation with Ann Sarnoff, WarnerMedia’s studio chief. The exact message, shared with Semafor by an individual with direct knowledge of the exchange, stated, “She’s bummed you don’t open theaters in NY, but perhaps you can hear her out.”
The following day, Cuomo honored Gollust’s request and contacted Sarnoff, leading to a discussion in which Sarnoff reportedly urged the governor to relax restrictions on movie theaters, according to a source familiar with the exchange. Gollust and WarnerMedia declined to provide comments on the matter, while Sarnoff and Chris Cuomo did not respond to requests for comment.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s decision to terminate Chris Licht has added another layer of complexity to the ongoing arbitration process. The challenge arises from the fact that CNN and its parent company have terminated several individuals who are now potentially crucial witnesses in the case.
According to two sources familiar with the matter, Jeff Zucker and Allison Gollust are preparing to provide testimony regarding the circumstances surrounding Chris Cuomo’s departure, as reported by Semafor.
Another significant witness, former CNN head of strategic communications Matt Dornic, had already begun preparations for the arbitration hearings prior to his termination on Wednesday, along with his superior Chris Licht.
A person with knowledge of the situation revealed that former Reliable Sources host Brian Stelter has been issued a subpoena and may also be called upon as a witness. It remains uncertain whether Stelter will be required to answer questions.
