CBS Studios has reached an agreement in a lawsuit filed by a script coordinator on the show “SEAL Team,” who claimed that their parent company, Paramount, was implementing unlawful diversity quotas that disadvantaged straight, white males.
On Friday, legal representatives for both parties notified the court about reaching a settlement in the case. They specified that “all actions and claims or defenses made within it will be dismissed permanently,” implying that the lawsuit can no longer be reopened, as stated in the filing. The specifics of the agreement have been kept confidential.
The organization’s stance on diversity, equity, and inclusion mirrors a shift among Hollywood companies, as they reassess their policies in this area due to a broader pullback from related initiatives in the private sector, prompted by government actions. Companies such as Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Paramount have led this change, having previously abandoned staffing targets based on race, ethnicity, gender, and sex earlier this year. Furthermore, they stopped gathering diversity and gender data for the majority of U.S. job applicants and discontinued linking their employee incentive program to DEI objectives. This decision was attributed to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling against race-conscious admissions in universities and government directives that necessitate adjustments in our company’s approach to inclusion going forward.
Last year, some policies were brought into focus when Brian Beneker, script coordinator for the show “SEAL Team,” claimed in a lawsuit filed in California federal court that he was repeatedly overlooked for a staff writer position after the introduction of an allegedly unlawful policy favoring diversity, supposedly giving preference to less skilled candidates from specific demographics, such as minorities, LGBTQ individuals, or women. He demanded at least half a million dollars, along with a court order appointing him a full-time producer on the series and prohibiting further instances of discriminatory hiring practices.
The court overseeing the case later rebuffed Paramount’s bid to dismiss the case.
The ongoing merger between Paramount Global and Skydance is being reviewed by regulators, with the lawsuit now resolved. Commissioner Brendan Carr of the FCC, who previously expressed interest in investigating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies at Comcast, has taken control of the deal due to the transfer of broadcast licenses. The FCC is still probing CBS News’ handling of an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris on 60 Minutes.
The legal dispute is over as Paramount Global waits for approval from regulators to merge with Skydance. Commissioner Brendan Carr, who had planned to investigate diversity policies at Comcast, is now looking into the sale because of the change in broadcast licenses. The FCC is still examining how CBS News handled a recent interview with Vice President Kamala Harris on 60 Minutes.
America First Legal Foundation, a conservative organization established by White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, represented Beneker. This law firm, along with JW Howard Attorneys, has filed federal lawsuits against significant corporations such as Starbucks, Morgan Stanley, and BlackRock. They claim that these companies’ diversity and employment policies violate civil rights legislation. The lawsuit targets what they perceive as discriminatory hiring quotas at Disney, specifically a rule that mandated at least half of the production and writing staff to come from underrepresented groups. This provision was rescinded by Disney earlier this year.
The agreement came about because the administration of President Donald Trump has been actively criticizing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the media and entertainment industry. Back in March, Carr called for the agency’s investigative body to probe Disney and ABC over allegations that they enforce discriminatory practices through racial quotas, among other concerns.
Neither Paramount nor CBS provided a response regarding the matter. The legal representatives of Beneker also did not provide an immediate comment upon request.
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2025-04-21 19:54