Veteran broadcaster Gayle King appears to have been thrown a career lifeline following a discreet lunch with her new, controversial boss at CBS News, Bari Weiss. The meeting, confirmed by a network source, comes amid intense speculation about King's future as her multi-million dollar contract approaches its conclusion.
A Discreet Meeting Amidst Network Upheaval
According to reports, the pair enjoyed a 'low-key lunch' at Cafe Luxembourg on New York City's Upper West Side this past Wednesday. An insider described how Weiss, who has shaken up the network since her appointment in October, kept security close but went largely unrecognised by staff. 'They were in the back corner and snuck in,' the source revealed, noting that King was 'smiling and friendly to the staff' throughout the meal.
This rendezvous follows a period of significant turbulence at CBS News under Weiss's leadership. The former New York Times opinion editor has restructured roles and implemented layoffs, a strategy that has reportedly ignited internal 'drama'. One of her most notable early decisions was promoting King's CBS Mornings co-host, Tony Dokoupil, to anchor the CBS Evening News broadcast from the start of the new year.
Contract Clouds and Vague Assurances
The central question hanging over the lunch was the future of Gayle King's role. Her lucrative contract, worth an estimated $15 million annually, is set to expire in May. Rumours have swirled for months that she might depart, particularly following the $8 billion merger between Paramount and Skydance Media.
King herself has addressed the gossip with deliberate vagueness. During a recent TV appearance, she admitted seeing the rumours but refused to 'negotiate in the press'. 'I hear one thing in the building and one thing outside of the building,' she said, adding, 'I've decided I'm going to stay out of the drama - and there is some drama.' When asked about Dokoupil's promotion, she stated she was happy for him but acknowledged it 'is certainly going to mean changes at CBS Mornings'.
A New Direction Under Weiss
Bari Weiss was installed by Paramount CEO David Ellison with a reported mandate to address the broadcaster's declining ratings and perceived 'woke' bias. Her vision for a more contentious, debate-driven format was hinted at last month when she praised a debate featuring controversial lawyer Alan Dershowitz as emblematic of CBS's future—a remark that drew scrutiny due to Dershowitz's association with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Despite the upheaval, the network is now signalling a desire for King to remain. Following the lunch meeting, a CBS spokesperson offered a more definitive outlook, stating, 'we expect [King] to have a very long future here.' This was bolstered by an official network statement which clarified that her contract runs through May 2026 and that she is 'a truly valued part of CBS'.
The private lunch between anchor and executive suggests high-level negotiations are underway, aiming to secure King's place within Weiss's radically reshaped CBS News landscape.
