CBS settles racial discrimination lawsuit from former white male writer
- Brian Beneker, a script coordinator for SEAL Team, filed a lawsuit against CBS Studios for racial discrimination.
- The lawsuit arose from allegations that CBS enforced hiring quotas favoring minority and female candidates over more qualified white male applicants.
- The settlement demonstrates a potential shift away from diversity quotas and towards merit-based hiring in the media industry.
In California, CBS Studios settled a lawsuit filed by Brian Beneker, a former script coordinator for the TV show SEAL Team. He claimed that he faced discrimination based on his race, sex, and sexual orientation when CBS instituted hiring quotas favoring minority, LGBTQ, and female candidates. The case, which was filed in 2024, highlighted the impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies enforced by media companies. These policies have been under increasing scrutiny due to claims that they can lead to unfair hiring practices against white males, particularly straight ones. The settlement follows a growing movement pushing back against DEI initiatives similar to those applied at CBS. Amid national discourse on discrimination, the settlement is perceived as a significant turning point where media companies may be re-evaluating their commitment to diversity quotas. As part of the settlement, specifics regarding financial compensation or hiring commitments remain undisclosed, but Beneker initially sought $500,000 and a full-time position on the series. The agreement reflects broader industry changes, as other major media companies are distancing themselves from rigid DEI frameworks in response to political pressures, particularly from the Trump administration. These adjustments reveal a shift towards considering merit over quotas in creative staffing positions. CBS's parent company, Paramount Global, announced it would end its policies of collecting demographic data on job applicants and would dismantle numeric goals for diversity in hiring, in a context of increasing backlash against DEI policies across the entertainment business. In parallel with these developments, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is also investigating media companies' DEI policies to determine their fairness and legality. The settlement with Beneker indicates CBS's attempt to comply with regulatory expectations while navigating its legal challenges. As government scrutiny increases, major companies like Paramount are reassessing their approach in order to mitigate legal risks associated with discrimination claims, which remain contentious in media and entertainment sectors.