The billionaire software scion actively trying to acquire CBS's parent Paramount was seen sitting with Donald Trump at UFC 314 Saturday - and staffers are already explaining why the summit does not bode well for the network future.
One such employee told Status the summit serves as proof those set to lead CBS are already willing to bow to the president, including Skydance Media CEO David Ellison.
Ellison's Skydance has spent the past several months trying to acquire Paramount for a price-tag of $8billion, and he surfaced suddenly at the fights to sit alongside Trump, Elon Musk, Ted Cruz, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and more.
A now viral photo shows the unlikely meetup in Miami - one the staffer said has already made waves internally.
They pointed to already-seen pushback from staff against settling Trump’s $20 billion lawsuit against the network, over an an October 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris he says was deceptively edited.
After senior CBS staffers expressed outrage at such an idea, Ellison's schmoozing with Trump solidified suspicions the station's situation could very soon become even worse, the staffer told Status.
Ellison, 42, is the son of Oracle founder Larry Ellison, a well-known Trump supporter. The deadline for the deal that would see him assume leadership of CBS was extended automatically by 90 days just last week.
It requires federal approval, sources who spoke to Status were quick to point out - leaving until July to iron out any details. The sole sticking point appears to be the suit - already a point of contention for staffers.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/media/article-14614419/donald-trump-david-ellison-cbs-ufc-meeting-paramount.html