Writers Guild criticizes Los Angeles mayor for backing settlement talks in Paramount-WBD merger case

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) issued a statement Thursday criticizing Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for supporting settlement talks in the antitrust lawsuit that seeks to block the $110 billion merger between Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery. Bass joined other Democratic officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta, in calling for negotiations, despite the attorney general’s recent legal victories that have set a trial date for March and a quarterly “ticking fee” of $650 million that Paramount must pay if the deal does not close by September 30.

“We are disappointed that Mayor Bass has chosen to join Paramount’s pressure campaign on public enforcers, to push through a merger that is being rightfully challenged as illegal and will lead to job losses in the entertainment industry,” the WGA said.

Bass told reporters that uncertainty surrounding the transaction harms workers, production schedules and the industry’s future, adding that many Los Angeles productions were already halted, leaving workers without pay. She said a settlement should contain “meaningful and enforceable commitments” to keep both companies in Los Angeles and protect jobs and investment.

Paramount’s CEO David Ellison has explored relocating the studio from Los Angeles, a move that has heightened opposition to the merger. While some industry insiders argue that a settlement would avoid prolonged disruption, the WGA maintains that the merger threatens thousands of jobs, a view echoed by a report to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors estimating significant employment losses.

Mayor Bass reiterated that her stance is not about taking sides but about safeguarding union workers and the local economy. The comments followed a mayoral debate in which her opponent, candidate Nithya Raman, also warned that the merger could deepen the region’s film-industry crisis, citing estimates of 4,500 film and television jobs and more than 10,000 regional jobs at risk.