CNN Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Allison Gollust resigned on Tuesday after an internal probe found her in violation of company policies. This comes nearly two weeks after the network’s former president Jeff Zucker stepped down from his post for not disclosing his relationship with Gollust.
Gollust’s resignation came after an internal investigation concluded that she had been in violation of CNN’s workplace policies, reported Reuters, citing a memo circulated internally by WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar.
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“Based on interviews of more than 40 individuals and a review of over 100,000 texts and emails, the investigation found violations of Company policies, including CNN’s News Standards and Practices, by Jeff Zucker, Allison Gollust, and Chris Cuomo,” Kilar told CNN employees in the memo.
“I realize this news is troubling, disappointing, and frankly, painful to read. These are valid feelings many of you have. We have the highest standards of journalistic integrity at CNN, and those rules must apply to everyone equally. Given the information provided to me in the investigation, I strongly believe we have taken the right actions and the right decisions have been made,” Kilar added.
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Gollust, for her part, released her own statement following her resignation on Tuesday night, accusing the WarnerMedia group of trying to change the narrative about its own internal misgivings.
“WarnerMedia’s statement tonight is an attempt to retaliate against me and change the media narrative in the wake of their disastrous handling of the last two weeks. It is deeply disappointing that after spending the past nine years defending and upholding CNN’s highest standards of journalistic integrity, I would be treated this way as I leave. But I do so with my head held high, knowing that I gave my heart and soul to working with the finest journalists in the world,” the 49-year-old said in her statement.
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Gollust’s resignation is the latest in a slew of resignations or dismissals from CNN. Chris Cuomo, the network’s prime-time anchor and brother of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, was fired from CNN in December last year for his attempts to help his embattled brother, who was accused of multiple counts of sexual harassment. Chris himself was accused of sexual harassment too.
After Chris Cuomo’s conduct came to light, several others, including former CNN producers Rick Saleeby and John Griffin were investigated or indicted for sexual harassment and/or misconduct.
This was followed by Jeff Zucker’s resignation for not disclosing a consensual workplace relationship, and the list now also includes Gollust.