CBS persistent Gayle Kingwho has hosted the network's morning show for more than a decade is expected to step down as host next year, according to a new report.
King, the anchor of “CBS Mornings,” may move to another news role, although that has not been confirmed, sources told Variety.
This happened after a major overhaul under CBS Newsnew editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, who has seen drastic cuts, the loss of two streaming shows and roughly 100 layoffs, among other things. Among those fired were eight correspondents and anchors, all of whom were women and half of whom were people of color.
King's current contract with CBS expires in May, according to Variety, although it is possible that she will remain with the network under an agreement to produce her own programs.
King, who has hosted the network's morning show for more than a decade, is expected to step down from her hosting role next year.
The publication notes that former CBS Evening News anchor Norah O'Donnell, who resigned in January, now works as a senior correspondent for several programs.
Independent contacted CBS News for more information on King's departure from the morning show and her future at the network.
In a statement to Variety, a rep said: “There have been no discussions with Gail about her contract, which runs until May 2026. She is truly an asset to CBS and we look forward to discussing the future with her.”
King joined CBS News as a morning show anchor in 2011 when it was called “CBS This Morning.” In 2021, it was renamed “CBS Mornings” with King still serving as host. She currently co-hosts the daily show with Nate Burleson and Tony Dokoupil.
Speculation surrounding King's future emerges after Paramount finally got the job done with massive layoffs and layoffs that had been expected for weeks.
Following the announcement, a CBS News producer fired as part of the selection took to social media to suggest that executives were involved in “race-based firings” and claimed that every producer on his team who was fired was a person of color, while his white colleagues were reassigned.
Massive layoffs have been expected since Chairman David Ellison took over Paramount in August following its politically fraught merger with Skydance Media. Ellison also promised the Trump administration that he would abandon its diversity, equity and inclusion policies once he took over the company.
An online source emphasized that Independent that the layoffs were in the works long before Weiss was hired in early October.
