Samira Said, a former ABC News field producer, has filed a lawsuit against CBS News chief correspondent Matt Gutman, ABC News, The Walt Disney Co., and an ABC bureau chief. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges that Gutman made inappropriate sexualized comments in the workplace and that Said was later fired by ABC after her requests for medical accommodations were denied.
According to the complaint, Gutman reportedly initiated a conversation about a female correspondent's appearance while Said was part of an all-male team. The lawsuit claims that the male crew members joined in the discussion, which Said deemed inappropriate.
The complaint also details a separate incident during a movie-release press event where Gutman allegedly made a sexualized insinuation regarding Said's professional judgment.
Said's lawsuit includes allegations of discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination against ABC and Disney. She claims that she was pressured to cover the Uvalde school shooting while experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, which led to severe psychological distress. Although a psychiatrist cleared her to return with accommodations, she alleges that the then-bureau chief did not allow her to work under a restricted schedule.
ABC terminated Said during what was described as a routine meeting on March 5, 2025. She is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, and a jury trial. The allegations have not yet been adjudicated. Gutman joined CBS in January after 17 years at ABC and is now involved in multiple CBS News programs. CBS and Disney have not yet publicly commented on the lawsuit.