CBS News Correspondent Accused of Harassment

Matt Gutman and Samira Said

A former ABC News field producer is suing her ex-employer, its parent company and a former colleague—now CBS News’ chief correspondent—over alleged inappropriate sexual remarks and a claimed wrongful termination.

The LA Times reports Samira Said filed the lawsuit Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court against ABC News, The Walt Disney Co. and Matt Gutman. She worked as a field producer at ABC for four years and accuses Gutman of creating a hostile work environment through sexualized comments made while they worked together several years ago. 

The suit also alleges ABC wrongfully terminated her in 2025 after she dealt with mental health issues and failed to provide required accommodations under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act.

Matt Gutman

The complaint details two incidents. In one, while waiting on a public line during an assignment, Gutman allegedly started rating a female correspondent’s appearance and reducing her professional standing to a numerical score based on physical attributes. Other male crew members joined in and tried to draw Said into the conversation; she declined and said it was inappropriate. 

In another, during coverage of a movie-release press event, after the two disagreed about leaving the work site, Gutman allegedly made a sexualized remark in front of multiple coworkers implying Said had an after-hours date. The suit says the comments demeaned her and reduced her professional judgment to a sexualized stereotype.

Gutman, 48, spent 17 years at ABC News, mostly reporting from Los Angeles, before joining CBS News in January. He was the first high-profile talent hire by CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss after she took charge of the division in October 2025. 

He recently filled in as anchor of the “CBS Evening News” and drew higher ratings than regular anchor Tony Dokoupil.