The broadcast veteran claims he was replaced by a less-experienced anchor because of Paramount’s diversity goals.
Former CBS news anchor Jeff Vaughn is suing the network and Paramount Global, alleging he was fired for being a straight, white male. Vaughn worked for KCBS-TV (Channel 2) and KCAL (Channel 9) in Los Angeles for eight years until his dismissal last September.
In a federal lawsuit filed this week, Vaughn’s attorneys claim he was “never given a reason for his firing,” but suspect it was due to the network’s aim to replace him with a younger, minority anchor. Vaughn was told last August he would be terminated and could only say goodbye on-air if he claimed the departure was his decision. He refused to lie, leading to a KCAL anchor announcing he “didn’t want to make a big fuss about leaving,” a statement his attorneys call “false.”
Vaughn’s complaint states he knew about his impending termination since May 2022 when KCBS-KCAL General Manager Joel Vilmenay told him he would be replaced. Vice President and News Director Mike Dello Stritto also confirmed his departure wasn’t due to ratings. Auditions for his replacement focused on younger minorities, and he was succeeded by Chauncey Glover, described as a “young, African-American male.”
Vaughn, a four-time Emmy Award winner with over 30 years of experience, argues he was fired because he is “an older, white, heterosexual male.” CBS and Paramount have not commented on the lawsuit, which names Wendy McMahon among the defendants. McMahon, CEO of CBS News and Stations, is accused of prioritizing diversity hires based on race, sex, and sexual orientation.
Represented by America First Legal, Vaughn seeks at least $5 million in damages. The lawsuit aligns with another case from a CBS drama script coordinator, both alleging Paramount’s diversity goals come at the expense of qualified workers. Vaughn has since launched “The Jeff Vaughn Show,” a weekly news recap podcast streaming on YouTube.