Ex-ABC Producer Drops CBS Star Matt Gutman from Harassment Suit

Key points

• Samira Said’s legal team filed a request on September 4 to dismiss Matt Gutman from the lawsuit filed on August 14.
• ABC News and The Walt Disney Co. remain defendants in the case, which seeks compensatory and punitive damages.
• Said alleges she was wrongfully terminated in March 2025 after being denied reasonable accommodations for mental health issues following trauma exposure.
• The original complaint cited two incidents where Gutman allegedly made inappropriate sexual comments or insinuations while on assignment.
• Gutman, who joined CBS News in January 2026, declined to comment through a representative, and Said’s lawyers did not explain the reason for dropping him.

Background

This development follows the initial filing of Said’s lawsuit in mid-August 2026, which named Gutman alongside ABC and Disney. Prior coverage highlighted Gutman’s transition from ABC to CBS under Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss and noted his previous on-air controversies, including misstatements regarding the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash. The current filing narrows the legal focus to the employer’s handling of Said’s medical leave and termination, removing the individual harassment claims against the correspondent.

How outlets are covering it

The Los Angeles Times and USA Today report that the filing did not provide a reason for dropping Gutman, noting that the allegations against him and former bureau chief Dave Herndon remain in the record but are no longer the basis for the suit against him. The New York Post frames the move as a 'dramatic twist' that leaves Gutman 'almost in the clear,' emphasizing the lack of explanation from either side. All outlets agree that ABC and Disney remain the primary targets, with USA Today detailing the specific claims regarding Said’s forced return to work after medical leave and her subsequent demotion and firing. None of the sources indicate any public response from Gutman or his current employer, CBS News.

Why it matters

The removal of a high-profile correspondent from a harassment lawsuit shifts the legal and public focus from individual misconduct to institutional liability. It highlights the ongoing scrutiny of ABC News’ workplace practices regarding mental health accommodations and the broader implications for media talent moving between networks amid legal disputes.

What to watch

The court must rule on the motion to drop Gutman. The case will proceed against ABC News and The Walt Disney Co., with Said seeking damages for alleged violations of California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act. No immediate response from Gutman or CBS News is expected, as both have declined to comment on the matter.