Trey Sherman, a former associate producer at CBS News, has made serious allegations following his dismissal amid a recent round of layoffs at Paramount Skydance, the network’s parent company. Sherman claims that the layoffs were racially motivated, asserting that every producer from his team who lost their job was a person of color, while their White colleagues were retained and reassigned within the company.
In a TikTok video, Sherman expressed his frustrations, stating, “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 statement highlights a growing concern about racial bias in corporate layoffs.
Allegations of Discrimination
According to Sherman, he began to suspect discrimination when he learned that all of his White colleagues had retained their positions. After individually asking his teammates about their employment status, he discovered that only employees of color had been affected by the layoffs. When he approached his supervisor for clarification, the executive claimed he had attempted to find Sherman another role, a statement Sherman disputes, calling it a lie.
“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,” Sherman recounted, directly confronting his supervisor. The executive’s justification, claiming prior experience with certain staff members, further fueled Sherman’s belief that the layoffs were not based on merit.
Wider Implications of the Layoffs
While Sherman’s allegations are serious, CBS News and Paramount Skydance have not publicly addressed them. Various media outlets, including the New York Post, have sought comments from the company but received no response. In the latest round of cuts, approximately 100 employees in the news division lost their jobs, which included the cancellation of two streaming programs—CBS Evening News and CBS Mornings. Additionally, the network’s Race and Culture Unit, established in July 2020, has been disbanded.
The ramifications of these layoffs and the accompanying allegations could have significant implications for the network, especially as discussions about diversity and inclusion continue to rise in corporate America. Sherman’s claims present a critical examination of how layoffs are conducted and the potential underlying biases that may influence such decisions.
