Bari Weiss's first on-air hire at CBS news has been accused of sexually harassing one of his colleagues, according to a new report.
Matt Gutman is being sued by former ABC News field producer Samira Said, who accuses him of making inappropriate sexual comments at work, The Daily Beast reported Saturday.
The Beast described the lawsuit as a "bombshell."
Neither CBS News nor ABC News responded to the Daily Beast's requests for comment.
Said's wrongful termination lawsuit claims Gutman created a hostile work environment at ABC News, where he worked for nearly 20 years, according to the report.
Gutman's former colleague accused him of asking male colleagues to rate a female correspondent's appearance, "reducing her professional standing to a numerical score based on her physical attributes,” The Beast reported.
Said also detailed allegations linked to a press day at a film release, when she suggested the team should leave and Gutman, she claims, gave an inappropriate reply.
"Gutman allegedly responded with a 'sexual insinuation' that she 'must have an after-hours date in the city and that this is why she did not want to relocate' in front of her co-workers," the Beast reported.
Said’s legal team argued she was reduced to a "sexualized stereotype.”
Her lawsuit claims Said was wrongfully terminated in 2025 after dealing with mental health issues, according to the report.
Gutman recently filled in for CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil, while he was on vacation, and also reports for CBS Mornings, CBS Evening News, 48 Hours and 60 Minutes.
Weiss has praised his “fearlessness, energy and relentlessness" — Gutman, has said he was “thrilled” to join the team with Weiss “at the helm.”
