WASHINGTON, D.C. – America First Legal has achieved another significant milestone in its fight to dismantle unlawful diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies across corporate America. Paramount Global has reversed course and terminated its DEI initiatives following AFL’s lawsuits challenging discriminatory employment practices at Paramount and its subsidiary, CBS.
Following Paramount’s change to DEI policies, AFL has also secured the amicable resolution of a discrimination claim against Paramount and CBS on behalf of its client, former “SEAL Team” script coordinator and writer Brian Beneker. AFL filed the lawsuit against Paramount Global, CBS Entertainment, and CBS Studios on February 29, 2024, alleging that the companies engaged in unlawful discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by denying Mr. Beneker employment and career opportunities based on his race, sex, and sexual orientation.
Mr. Beneker alleged that Paramount and CBS had imposed racial quotas in their writers’ rooms. In 2020, George Cheeks, then-President and CEO of CBS and now co-CEO of CBS and Paramount Global, publicly stated that he “set a goal that all writers’ rooms on the network’s primetime series be staffed 40 percent BIPOC in the 2021-22 season; 17 out of 21 shows hit or exceeded that target.” CBS also set a target that “half of all writers will be nonwhite” by “the 2022-2023 broadcast season.”
Paramount has now reversed course on these targets. Specifically, it has:
- Stopped setting numerical goals related to race, ethnicity, sex, or gender.
- Stopped collecting data on the race, ethnicity, sex, or gender of applicants.
- Removed a five percent funding bonus for programs advancing DEI goals.
As alleged in Mr. Beneker’s complaint, he began as a script coordinator for SEAL Team during its first season in 2017. Mr. Beneker wrote a freelance script for its second season and continued to write freelance scripts with co-writers for four episodes across four separate seasons of the show. Despite this substantial writing experience, he was repeatedly denied promotions to a full-time SEAL Team staff writer. During his time as script coordinator across six seasons of SEAL Team, at least six minority writers — black, female, or gay — were hired, many of whom had no writing credits and limited experience. Mr. Beneker asked the showrunner, who generally has the authority to hire writers, why he wasn’t hired for open writing positions, and the showrunner stated that he did not “check any diversity boxes.” Through his lawsuit, Mr. Beneker sought to draw attention to the invidious DEI hiring practices he and many other white, male, heterosexual writers have encountered over the past several years.
Now that Paramount and CBS have publicly announced the termination of DEI policies, Mr. Beneker has agreed to voluntarily dismiss his claims following an amicable resolution with the companies. AFL is proud to have represented Mr. Beneker, applauds his courage in standing up for his rights, and AFL will continue fighting to end unlawful DEI policies in the entertainment industry and beyond.
Statement from Nick Barry, America First Legal Senior Counsel:
“Paramount Global and CBS Studios have agreed to a settlement in a lawsuit America First Legal brought on behalf of our client Brian Beneker. America First Legal is pleased to see Paramount and CBS publicly back off their DEI requirements and return to merit-based considerations. Diversity quotas that discriminate on the basis of race are unlawful. Others in the entertainment industry should take note,” said Nick Barry.
Read more information about the case here.
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Photo credit: Adobe Stock / Emanuel
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