Paramount is becoming the latest large corporation to scale back its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs under President Donald Trump.
The company will walk back its DEI policies in order to settle a lawsuit from a CBS script writer alleging discrimination because he is a white male.
Former “SEAL Team” script coordinator and writer Brian Beneker sued CBS and Paramount in 2024 for allegedly engaging in unlawful discrimination against him because he is a straight white male. Conservative legal group America First Legal represented Beneker and announced Paramount’s agreement to end its DEI policies in order to settle the lawsuit.
Paramount is ending its hiring targets related to race, sex, and gender after Beneker alleged the company created racial quotas in its writing rooms. The media conglomerate will no longer collect demographic data on its applicants and it is removing a 5 percent funding bonus for programs that advance DEI.
“Paramount Global and CBS Studios have agreed to a settlement in a lawsuit America First Legal brought on behalf of our client Brian Beneker,” said America First Legal senior counsel Nick Barry.
“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.”
Beneker’s lawsuit alleged he was passed up on promotions to a full time “SEAL Team” staff writer on multiple occasions after writing freelance scripts for multiple episodes across its seasons. At the same time, the show hired at least six unqualified minority writers.
When Beneker asked the showrunner about it, the person allegedly told Beneker he did not check any of their diversity boxes. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlaws employer discrimination based on race, sex, religion, and other characteristics.
NR has reached out to Paramount and CBS for comment.
Due to Paramount’s decision to end its DEI policies, Beneker and America First Legal are voluntarily dismissing his lawsuit. The case marks the latest victory for the Trump-aligned law firm in its quest to eradicate DEI policies from corporate America.
Several large corporations have walked away from DEI initiatives since President Donald Trump won the 2024 election easily over former Vice President Kamala Harris. Meta, McDonald’s, and Target are among the companies to stop their DEI policies because of an increasingly perilous legal and political environment. The Trump administration has targeted DEI in educational institutions and the federal government through workforce reductions and civil rights investigations for alleged racial discrimination.