CBS and Paramount Global have settled a discrimination lawsuit that has forced the entertainment giants to roll back their controversial DEI hiring policies after a white male employee claimed he was passed over for promotion due to his race and gender.
At a Glance
- Brian Beneker, a former script coordinator on CBS’s “SEAL Team,” filed a discrimination lawsuit claiming he was denied promotion opportunities for not “checking any diversity boxes”
- Paramount Global and CBS Studios agreed to settle the case, scaling back their DEI initiatives and ending specific hiring goals based on race, sex, and gender
- The companies will now limit demographic data collection to legal requirements only and return to merit-based considerations for employment
- The case represents a significant shift in Hollywood’s approach to diversity programs amid growing scrutiny and legal challenges
Lawsuit Details and Settlement
The discrimination lawsuit against CBS and Paramount Global was filed by Brian Beneker, a former script coordinator for the CBS drama “SEAL Team.” Beneker claimed he was passed over for promotions specifically because he is a white, heterosexual male. His lawsuit alleged that while less experienced minority writers were hired and promoted, he was told he did not “check any diversity boxes” required for advancement within the company’s DEI framework.
America First Legal (AFL), a conservative legal group that represented Beneker in the case, announced the settlement. While specific settlement terms were not disclosed, the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled. Beneker had originally sought $500,000 in damages and a court order for a full-time producer position, as well as an injunction to stop what he considered discriminatory hiring practices.
CBS’s DEI Targets and Policy Changes
The lawsuit highlighted CBS’s ambitious diversity targets announced in 2020. The network had publicly committed that 40% of writers’ rooms would be staffed with BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) writers by the 2021-2022 television season. This goal was set to increase to 50% by the 2022-2023 season. These quotas were central to Beneker’s claim that he faced systematic discrimination.
Following the settlement, Paramount Global announced significant policy changes. The company has agreed to stop collecting gender and diversity data for most U.S. job applicants except where legally required. DEI goals have been removed from employee incentive programs, and the company has publicly distanced itself from its previous diversity initiatives. These changes align with a broader trend in the entertainment industry of scaling back DEI programs.
Broader Industry Impact
The settlement comes at a time when DEI programs are facing increased scrutiny across corporate America. Several major entertainment companies including Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery have eliminated staffing goals tied to race, ethnicity, sex, and gender in recent months. This shift coincides with political and regulatory challenges to such programs, particularly following President Trump’s re-election and subsequent anti-DEI policy positions.
The settlement is particularly significant as Paramount Global navigates other challenges, including a proposed merger with Skydance and separate legal issues. The company has reportedly agreed to mediation with President Trump’s legal team regarding a $20 billion lawsuit in which Trump accused CBS of election interference over a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris that he alleged was deceptively edited.
The case highlights the tension between fostering diversity in workplaces and ensuring fair treatment for all employees regardless of demographic factors. As companies reassess their DEI strategies, many are returning to merit-based hiring and promotion practices while seeking alternative ways to create inclusive work environments that comply with anti-discrimination laws.