Matt Gutman, the CBS News chief correspondent, has recently had his name withdrawn from a wrongful termination lawsuit previously filed by Samira Said, a former field producer at ABC News. The lawsuit, originally lodged in August, accused Gutman of making inappropriate and sexualised comments during his tenure at ABC.
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Said’s legal team made the request for Gutman’s removal from the case in a filing submitted to the Los Angeles Superior Court on September 4. Alongside Gutman, Said also sought to dismiss David Herndon, who served as ABC News’ Los Angeles bureau chief, as a defendant. Despite the withdrawal of Gutman and Herndon, ABC and its parent company, The Walt Disney Company, remain implicated in the lawsuit, with allegations against the two former employees still lodged in the court records.
Said’s lawsuit extends beyond her claims about Gutman’s remarks. She alleges wrongful termination after being repeatedly denied medical leave while grappling with mental health challenges. According to the filing, Said worked in ABC News’ Los Angeles bureau between May 2021 and March 2025.
In her initial complaint, which had been previously made available to the media, Said outlined incidents she described as contributing to a “hostile” work environment. She accused Gutman of harassment based on sex and gender. Said claimed that during her employment, she was integrated into a male-only team that included Gutman and two other male crew members, leading to uncomfortable and inappropriate workplace interactions.
One noteworthy incident detailed in the lawsuit occurred while the team was queueing in a public space during an assignment. Gutman reportedly initiated a conversation that involved assessing a female colleague’s appearance, reducing her professional capabilities to a numerical score based on physical attributes. Said stated that the other men engaged in this inappropriate dialogue and attempted to involve her by soliciting her opinion, which she declined, labelling the conversation as inappropriate.
Yet another allegation focuses on a separate occasion relating to a disagreement about whether the team should leave their work site during a press day for a film release. Gutman is accused of responding to Said’s reservations with a sexualised insinuation, implying that her reluctance to move locations was due to a potential after-hours date. This remark, according to the complaint, demeaned Said and attempted to reduce her professional judgement to a crude stereotype.
Said’s lawsuit articulates claims that the company violated California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act by failing to provide necessary accommodations for her mental health struggles. As part of her remedy, she is pursuing both compensatory and punitive damages, alongside coverage for her legal fees.
While Matt Gutman’s representatives have yet to comment on the matter, CBS News has similarly chosen not to provide a statement regarding the allegations.
As the lawsuit evolves, the wider implications for workplace conduct in media and other professional environments remain a critical issue of discussion. Such cases highlight the importance of ensuring a safe workplace free from harassment and discrimination, particularly when it comes to protecting individuals’ rights to manage their mental well-being.
Anyone who may be facing similar mental health challenges or emotional distress is encouraged to seek help and can contact services like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for support.