This story was updated at 1:36 pm central time.
“What I’m Hearing In The Building Is Not What I’m Hearing In The Press,” King Says Amid CBS Shakeup And Network Layoffs
Gayle King isn’t going anywhere—at least not yet.
After Variety reported Thursday that King was expected to depart CBS Mornings next year, the veteran anchor set the record straight. Speaking to TMZ outside the CBS News studios, King said she was just as confused by the rumors as everyone else.
“All I’ve been told by everybody in this building is that they want me here, they like the job I’m doing. I like the job I’m doing. I like the job and the people that I work with,” King said.
“So I don’t know what to tell you, but what I’m hearing in the building is not what I’m reading in the press. And what I’m not going to do is negotiate in the media. Not doing that.”
The 14-year CBS veteran made it clear that despite the chatter, she has no plans to walk away from the anchor desk.
King’s possible departure coincides with a massive corporate shakeup at CBS. Parent company Paramount Global, now under Skydance Media’s ownership, announced plans to eliminate more than 2,000 positions companywide after its July merger.
Nearly 1,000 employees were laid off this week across multiple divisions, including roughly 100 from CBS News. Among the most notable casualties was the network’s Race and Culture Unit, which has been fully disbanded as part of Paramount’s broader cost-cutting plan.
According to Variety, King’s contract expires in May 2026, and while she may take on a different position within the network’s news division, her long-running role as anchor is likely coming to an end.
CBS has denied any formal discussions about her contract, saying, “She’s a truly valued part of CBS and we look forward to engaging with her about the future.”
The speculation comes amid a massive shakeup across CBS News. Parent company Paramount Global, recently acquired by David Ellison’s Skydance Media, laid off nearly 1,000 employees across its networks this week — roughly 10% of its workforce.
That included nearly 100 staffers from the CBS News division.
As part of the restructuring, Skydance appointed Bari Weiss, founder of the conservative-leaning outlet The Free Press, as editor-in-chief of CBS News — signaling a shift in editorial direction. Ellison reportedly wants to broaden the network’s appeal by rebalancing what he perceives as its liberal tilt.
Since joining CBS Mornings in 2011, King has anchored alongside Charlie Rose, Norah O’Donnell, Anthony Mason, Tony Dokoupil, and Nate Burleson. She’s earned praise for her calm, no-nonsense interviewing style — most memorably during her 2019 sit-down with R. Kelly, when the singer erupted in anger over questions about his abuse charges.
“I thought if I just sit there quietly, looking at him, he would know I’m not going anywhere,” King told The Late Show with Stephen Colbert after the viral moment.
Earlier this year, King was also tapped to join Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin for a future civilian space flight, expanding her résumé far beyond the anchor desk.
King began her career as a production assistant at Baltimore’s WJZ-TV, where she met her lifelong friend and collaborator Oprah Winfrey. The partnership later led her to The Oprah Winfrey Show as a correspondent, setting the stage for her success in daytime and network television.
Despite the shakeup and speculation, King sounded unfazed. When asked what’s next for CBS Mornings, she kept it simple:
“I have no idea. No idea. All I know is, I am here. I am here and glad to be here. I’m happy to see them, this gang.”
For now, fans can breathe easy: Gayle King is staying put. Whether CBS’s rapidly changing landscape will alter that in the future remains to be seen.
