The turmoil inside CNN is still going on one month since the firing of Chris Cuomo. According to Deadline, Jeff Zucker, who was the president of CNN, resigned for his failure to disclose what he described as a “consensual relationship” with a colleague.
Zucker’s departure ends his nine-year tenure at the network. Throughout these years, Zucker played an important role in reshaping the network’s formula and programs. He helped the network shift its traditional form from a 24-hour news channel to one that leans toward commentary and personality. Not only did the ratings remain healthy, but the channel also provided stardom to its hosts. Zucker is also a major force that pushes CNN+, the subscription streaming service of the network.
While Zucker had been expected to depart at the end of last year, Discovery’s purchase of WarnerMedia prolonged this process. So far, Zucker revealed little about what he has in plan for his or the network’s future.
Zucker released a statement addressing his departure. “As part of the investigation into Chris Cuomo’s tenure at CNN, I was asked about a consensual relationship with my closest colleague, someone I have worked with for more than 20 years,” Zucker wrote Wednesday. “I acknowledged the relationship evolved in recent years. I was required to disclose it when I began but I didn’t. I was wrong.”
The news shocked many CNN employees. Many of them had known and worked with Zucker for years. Despite some controversies, Zucker also received many praises from his former colleagues. Kasie Hunt, one of Zucker’s coworkers, tweeted that “Jeff Zucker’s support has meant the world to me, both at work and in life when I was suddenly faced with my biggest ever personal challenge: getting a brain tumor. I’m so proud of what we’ve built @CNNplus under Jeff’s leadership and I can’t wait to share it with you.”
Allison Gollust, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for CNN, said in a statement that CNN’s Brian Stelter read on air: “Jeff and I have been close friends and professional partners for over 20 years. Recently our relationship changed during Covid. I regret that we didn’t disclose it at the right time.”
Although there has not been any official source pointing out more details about this incident, Gollust’s statement caused speculation that she might be the colleague that Zucker was referring to. The two worked together at NBC, and their relationship had long been the source of rumor and speculation. Journalist Katie Couric revealed in her 2021 book Going There that Zucker and Gollust had a close relationship with each other. As a close friend of Zucker’s wife, Couric even described that it “makes her uncomfortable”. Soledad O’Brien, who left the network in 2013, wrote on Twitter that the relationship was a “company-wide open secret.” Zucker divorced his wife in 2019.
However, Gollust stated that she would be remaining with the company. Jason Kilar, CEO of Warner Media, called Zucker and made it clear he would need to leave either voluntarily or not. Michael Bass, Amy Entelis, and Ken Jautz, three executives named by WarnerMedia, will serve as interim co-heads of the cable news operation.