Former ABC producer sues CBS correspondent Matt Gutman in wrongful-termination case
A former ABC News producer has named CBS chief correspondent Matt Gutman as a defendant in a wrongful-termination lawsuit alleging harassment and violations of California employment law.
A former ABC News field producer, Samira Said, has filed a wrongful-termination lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court that includes CBS News chief correspondent Matt Gutman as a defendant. The complaint alleges that Gutman made sexualized remarks toward Said during two separate assignments while they worked together at ABC, creating a hostile work environment.
According to the filing, Gutman allegedly initiated a discussion rating a female correspondent’s appearance and later suggested that Said had an “after-hours date” in front of other crew members. Said declined to participate in the conversation and described the comments as demeaning and reducing her professional judgment to a sexualized stereotype.
The suit also claims that ABC terminated Said in 2025 after she sought accommodations for mental-health issues stemming from coverage of traumatic events, including the 2022 Uvalde school shooting. The complaint alleges violations of California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act for failing to provide required medical leave.
A Disney spokesperson said the company had not yet reviewed the complaint and declined to comment. CBS News and Gutman also declined to comment, stating they had not seen the lawsuit.
Said is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, as well as attorneys’ fees.