CBS News’ Matt Gutman Dropped From Lawsuit Accusing Him of Making ‘Sexualized’ Remark

(Photo Credit: CBS Mornings on YouTube)

CBS News Chief National Correspondent Matt Gutman has been dropped from a lawsuit filed by a former coworker who accused him of making a “sexualized” comment about her and inappropriately rating the appearance of a female newscaster while talking to his otherwise all-male team when he worked at ABC.

Attorneys for ex-ABC producer Samira Said requested Gutman’s name be dismissed from her wrongful termination and harassment lawsuit, according to paperwork filed on Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court.

The request comes three weeks after Said named Gutman in the lawsuit, in which she alleged she was wrongfully axed by ABC News while she struggled with various medical issues; no reason was given for Gutman’s name being yanked, according to Deadline.

The initial filing accused Gutman — who was poached by CBS News boss Bari Weiss soon after she took the top job last year — of contributing to the hostile work environment in two instances.

In one alleged episode, Gutman rated a female correspondent’s appearance, according to Said’s lawsuit, which did not identify the woman being ranked:

While the team waited in a public queue during the assignment, Gutman initiated a discussion rating a female correspondent’s appearance and reducing her professional standing to a numerical score based on her physical attributes. The male crew joined in, continuing to assess the woman’s body and looks in Said’s presence. The men attempted to draw Said into the conversation by soliciting her views. Said declined and stated the conversation was inappropriate.

Said also claimed the 48-year-old reporter once “demeaned” her while they were on an assignment, alleging in the legal filing:

On another occasion, during a press day related to a film release, Said and Gutman disagreed about whether the team should leave the work site. In front of multiple coworkers, Gutman responded by making a sexualized insinuation that Said must have an after-hours date in the city and that this is why she did not want to relocate. The remark, made audibly to others, demeaned Said and reduced her professional judgment to a sexualized stereotype.

Said claims she was fired in March 2025 after years of being subject to a hostile work environment.

The litigation comes as Gutman scored a ratings bump for the CBS Evening News, delivering 4.1 million viewers while filling in for controversial anchor Tony Dokoupil.

Said’s lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and asks that ABC be made to cover her attorney fees.

CBS News declined to comment, according to the California Post, which also covered the development.

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