Skydance's David Ellison denies involvement in any deal with Trump for free TV ads and clarifies that the company was not part of the Paramount settlement in any capacity.
Paramount Skydance Denies Side Deal with Trump for Free Advertising
New York City, Thursday – David Ellison, the chairman and CEO of the newly merged Paramount Skydance, has publicly denied any involvement in a side deal with former President Donald Trump for free advertising. This comes after Trump's claims of a separate agreement for millions of dollars worth of free TV ads following Skydance's takeover of Paramount Global.
During a press briefing at Paramount's headquarters in Times Square, Ellison emphasized that Skydance Media was not involved in the $16 million settlement between Paramount Global and Trump over a lawsuit related to a “60 Minutes” interview. He declined to confirm any such deal and reiterated the company's focus on entertainment rather than politicizing the entity.
The issue has been a topic of political controversy, with public criticism from media figures like Stephen Colbert and the creators of "South Park," who have accused the settlement of being a "bribe" and satirized the situation.
Skydance's general counsel, Stephanie Kyoko McKinnon, did not directly address the question of whether Skydance has a side deal with Trump. However, she wrote that Skydance was neither a party to the lawsuit nor to Paramount's settlement with Trump.
The FCC approved the Skydance-Paramount deal on July 24, which officially closed on Thursday. Prior to the FCC's approval, McKinnon sent letters to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr promising that Skydance would install an ombudsman at CBS to review complaints of bias or other concerns and guaranteeing that the merged Skydance-Paramount would not implement any diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren and other senators have called for a "full, independent investigation into whether there was any criminal behavior" regarding the settlement and the alleged side deal with Skydance. Warren's letter to Skydance and Paramount asked if Ellison or other Skydance execs were involved in CBS's decision to cancel "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert."
Despite the ongoing investigation and political controversy, Ellison's speech at the press briefing focused on his vision for the company's future. He reaffirmed Skydance's commitment to compliance with all laws, including anti-bribery laws, and emphasized that the company is not going to politicize anything.
As of now, the company, Paramount Skydance, has not officially confirmed a side deal with President Donald Trump for millions of dollars worth of free TV advertising airtime. Trump previously claimed a side deal with Skydance, stating they would contribute $20 million in advertising, PSAs, and programming that promote his favored causes.
- In the midst of political controversy, Paramount Skydance has maintained its focus on business matters, especially entertainment, distancing itself from any claims of a side deal with President Donald Trump for free advertising.
- Despite ongoing investigations and allegations of a side deal worth millions of dollars in advertising, finance executive David Ellison, the CEO of Paramount Skydance, has repeatedly emphasized the company's commitment to compliance with all laws, including anti-bribery laws, and its intention to steer clear from politicizing its operations.
