A media mogul who oversees CNN branded former network boss Jeff Zucker “a weakling who had tears in his eyes” after a chance meeting after Zucker’s firing, reports say.
David Zaslav, who runs CNN parent company Warner Bros. Discovery, was said to be unimpressed with his old friend’s behavior after meeting him in Miami following Zucker’s ouster in February 2022 over a relationship with a younger colleague.
The two power brokers were good friends through their previous collaboration at NBCUniversal – but things went south when Zucker reprimanded Zaslav for not contacting him after his forced resignation, the New York Times reported.
Zaslav then reportedly texted Zucker saying, “Let’s move on.” But then he allegedly bad-mouthed him to his CNN successor, Chris Licht, about the emotional outburst, saying, “Can you believe this?”
Warner Bros. Discovery and CNN boss David Zaslav has branded former CNN president Jeff Zucker “a teary-eyed weakling” following his departure from the network in February 2022.
Zucker’s ouster may have saved Zaslav from another awkward encounter, as he was reportedly considering getting rid of the doomed ex-CNN boss because of the network’s controversial anti-Trump partisan stance that had taken root under Zucker.
David Zaslav, head of Warner Bros. Discovery and CNN, has criticized former CNN president Jeff Zucker, calling him “a weakling with tears in his eyes.”
Jeff Zucker served as CNN’s president for nearly a decade until he was forced out in February 2022
In Lemon’s case, Licht had moved him from his 10 p.m. slot, “Don Lemon Tonight,” to a revamped morning show, CNN This Morning, which Lemon was not a fan of, as he had to share the spotlight with two other female anchors.
It was one of the first major program steps under light.
In a tangled web of complex relationships, Lemon believed he had the support and protection of Zaslev, and the boss encouraged him to speak freely about how Licht conducted himself as head of CNN.
Lemon revealed that Light did not inspire trust among journalists and producers in the CNN newsroom, but Lemon’s career was derailed after he made a sexist comment about 51-year-old presidential candidate Nikki Haley.
Lemon said on the show that Haley was “not in her prime” and that a woman isn’t in her prime until “her 20s, 30s and maybe 40s.”
CNN CEO Chris Licht did not inspire confidence among the journalists and producers in the CNN newsroom
On the show, Don Lemon defended his claim that women over 40 are “past their prime.”
Don Lemon (right) is pictured with his fiancé Tim Malone near his Hudson Yards apartment after being fired from CNN in April
At the time, co-hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins challenged Lemon, trying to clarify what he was referring to: “I think we have to qualify.” Talk about the distinction of bearing children or the distinction of being president ?
“Don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just saying what the facts are,” Lemon replied.
Lemon issued a statement the same day saying he regretted his “clumsy and irrelevant” comments.
He was then absent from the show for three days and returned the following week with an apology on Twitter, but did not mention the episode that aired.
Zaslev’s patience ran out when he demanded to know, “Why wasn’t he fired?”
CNN made no public statement about Lemon’s firing, leaving him to do so himself.
“After 17 years at CNN, I would have thought someone in management would have the decency to tell me directly,” Lemon said.
Meanwhile, Lemon was seen walking the red carpet at the Time100 Gala in New York
CNN said Lemon was given an opportunity to meet with management, but instead released a statement on Twitter.
The show had made little headway in the ratings against more popular cable news rivals Fox & Friends and Morning Joe.
The sour mood began to cost CNN advertising sales, and some potential guests became reluctant to appear on CNN This Morning.
In March of this year, Zaslav promised Discovery board members how Lemon would perform on the morning show before Memorial Day. He was ultimately fired at the end of April, just five months into his new show.
Lemon later met with Zaslav after his departure. Zaslav apologized for his handling of the situation – and although the discussion was said to have been cordial, their social relationship has since ended.
At one time, Zaslav was friends with Lemon, 57, Licht, 52, and Zucker, 58 – they visited their homes in the Hamptons on Long Island and attended social events together, including parties.
But the friendships faltered and fell by the wayside when he took on the role of head of CNN’s parent company in 2022.
Oversight of the fledgling news organization took precedence over personal connections that often took years to develop.
According to The Times, its report on Zaslav’s interactions with key figures at CNN is based on a series of interviews with more than a dozen people familiar with the network’s inner workings.
Zaslav appears to have been making plans for how to transform “the most trusted name in news” long before he took the helm at Warner Bros. Discovery – and even had discussions with Licht about running CNN while Zucker was still at the helm .
Zucker’s departure ultimately came about for reasons unrelated to Zaslav’s violation of company policy – namely, his failure to disclose a consensual relationship with CNN Worldwide’s former marketing director, 49-year-old Allison Gollust.
He left the $6 million-a-year post after admitting to employees that he had violated the company’s standards of conduct.
Zaslav and Zucker’s relationship deteriorated further about a year after his departure, when the pair finally spoke during a chance meeting at a Miami Beach hotel and Zaslav allegedly disparaged Zucker.
Zucker told Zaslev that he was disappointed he hadn’t heard from him, while Zaslev wanted to make it clear that he was not behind his downfall.
Zaslav also explained that he could not reach him because the merger between WarnerMedia’s AT&T and Discovery has not yet been completed.
Zaslev has left work relationships and former friendships in tatters as he tries to regain CNN’s ratings
The couple agreed to “move on,” but later during a phone conversation with Licht, Zaslav described Zucker as “a weakling who had tears in his eyes” during their meeting, according to The Times.
According to sources, the couple no longer communicates.
Zucker is now with RedBird IMI, a digital media, sports, entertainment and news investment fund founded by RedBird Capital Partners, a private equity firm, and International Media Investments, a lender with ties to the UAE government became .
In Chris Licht’s case, Zaslav had taken over as head of CNN even though Zucker was still in charge.
After Zucker’s departure, Licht accepted the position in February 2022, but this again came at the expense of their friendship.
“We have been friends for 15 years. We are no longer friends. “You work for me,” Zaslev told Licht when he took on the role.
Licht’s departure from CNN came barely a year later, and in June 2023 he disappeared after a profile in The Atlantic revealed how staff had become dissatisfied with him over actions taken during his tenure
Chris Licht presided over a publicly chaotic year at CNN before being ousted
Licht’s departure from CNN came barely a year later, and in June 2023 he disappeared after a profile in The Atlantic revealed how staff had become dissatisfied with him over actions taken during his tenure.
In the article, more than 100 CNN employees questioned his ability to lead the organization into the future.
Licht’s departure capped a turbulent year marked by layoffs, falling profits, low ratings, the firing of two presenters and disastrous staff morale.
“This has been an exciting but incredibly challenging role, and I have learned a lot over the last 13 months,” Licht said in a statement at the time.
“I have been fortunate to have had a successful and fulfilling career and I look forward to my next chapter.” I wish the CNN team the very best.”
Licht had been tasked with overhauling the network following Zucker’s departure and the firing of Chris Cuomo, its most successful host.
His mission was to rid the network of its inherent left-wing bias and increase ratings.
Instead, he isolated himself in a corporate office on the 22nd floor – five floors above the newsroom – and appeared constantly unavailable to employees disgusted by his efforts to bring the network back to the political center.
After years of high-profile coverage of the Trump White House and the COVID-19 pandemic, the network began to endure the so-called Trump slump, and even as the presidential cycle heated up, the network’s numbers have been declining.
The magazine gained extraordinary access to light, portraying him as boastful when he was interviewed at the gym, describing himself as “a machine” and saying his predecessor, Zucker, “couldn’t do anything like that.”
After the explosive article, Zaslav warned him to “get the narrative in order within six months” – but Licht was fired by Zaslev within days – another working relationship and previous friendship now in tatters.