A former ABC News field producer has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court, naming her former employer, The Walt Disney Co., and CBS News Chief Correspondent Matt Gutman. Samira Said, who worked for ABC News for four years, alleges inappropriate remarks by Gutman created a hostile work environment and that ABC News wrongfully terminated her after she sought mental health accommodations.
Gutman, who spent 17 years at ABC News mostly reporting from Los Angeles, joined CBS News in January. The suit cites two incidents where Said claims Gutman made inappropriate sexual comments while they were on assignment together. In one instance, while waiting on a public line, Gutman allegedly initiated a discussion rating a female correspondent’s appearance and reducing her professional standing to a numerical score based on her physical attributes. The suit claims other male crew members joined in and tried to involve Said, who declined and stated the conversation was inappropriate.
In a separate incident at a press event for a movie release, Said claims she and Gutman disagreed about leaving the work site. The lawsuit states Gutman responded by implying she had an after-hours date in the city. These remarks, made in front of multiple coworkers, were allegedly demeaning and, according to the suit, 'reduced [Said’s] professional judgment to a sexualized stereotype.'
The lawsuit also claims ABC News terminated Said in 2025 after she dealt with mental health issues, accusing the company of violating California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act by not making accommodations. Following her assignment covering the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, where she interviewed child survivors, Said told her supervisor she needed a short leave for her health, but was denied. A psychiatrist eventually approved medical leave, yet the suit alleges assignment requests continued from David Herndon, then head of ABC’s Los Angeles bureau.
Later in January 2025, Said was sent home three weeks into covering the Los Angeles wildfires after a supervisor observed her deteriorating physical condition, according to the suit. The same year, she reported a foot injury sustained while covering a weather story, but was denied medical leave after evaluation by a company doctor.
Gutman, 48, was the first high-profile talent hire by CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss. He has recently filled in as anchor of the 'CBS Evening News,' scoring higher ratings than the program’s regular anchor Tony Dokoupil.
A representative for Disney declined comment, stating executives had yet to see Said’s complaint. CBS News and Gutman also declined comment, citing they had not seen the suit. Said is seeking compensatory and punitive damages along with attorneys’ fees.
