Feminist organization UltraViolet has strongly criticized Skydance Media for appointing Jeff Shell as president of the company, just a year after he left his role as CEO of NBCUniversal following an “inappropriate relationship” with former CNBC anchor Hadley Gamble. Skydance Media, known for producing successful films like “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One,” recently reached a merger agreement with media conglomerate Paramount. The merger would grant David Ellison’s Skydance control over Paramount Global, which includes CBS, MTV, VH1, and Black Entertainment Television.
UltraViolet, a national organization advocating for feminist cultural and political change, issued a statement on Wednesday expressing disappointment in Skydance’s decision to appoint Shell as president. Nicole Regalado, Vice President of Campaigns for UltraViolet, called on Skydance to reconsider the appointment, stating that it would send the wrong message to women about their safety and well-being.
In April of the previous year, Comcast, the parent company of NBCUniversal, disclosed to the Securities and Exchange Commission that Shell, who was married at the time, had engaged in inappropriate conduct with a female employee. Comcast confirmed that Shell’s misconduct included allegations of sexual harassment, which were corroborated during an investigation. Consequently, Shell was fired by NBCUniversal “with cause” on April 23. It was later revealed that Gamble, a CNBC anchor, had filed a complaint against Shell for sexual harassment after learning that her contract would not be renewed. CNBC and Gamble reached a financial settlement worth over $1 million.
Prior to joining Skydance, Shell served as an informal consultant to RedBird, a prominent private equity firm led by former CNN boss Jeff Zucker. Zucker left CNN in 2022 after it was discovered that he had engaged in a romantic relationship with a top subordinate. Skydance has previously hired executives who left their previous roles due to alleged workplace misconduct. In 2019, the company hired John Lasseter, co-founder of Pixar, after he resigned from Disney amid complaints of unwanted physical contact with female subordinates. Lasseter’s contract with Skydance includes provisions that hold him financially responsible for any legal claims related to sexual harassment. He also had to indemnify Skydance from any undisclosed past misconduct uncovered during the due diligence process.
It remains unclear if Skydance subjected Shell to a similar scrutiny. CBS, a subsidiary of Paramount, faced its own #MeToo-related reckoning in 2018 when multiple women accused longtime CEO Les Moonves of sexual harassment. Moonves subsequently left the company, ending his 20-year tenure as head of the network.
2 Responses
This is absolutely outrageous! How can Skydance Media appoint someone like Jeff Shell as their president, knowing full well about his inappropriate relationship with Hadley Gamble? It’s a slap in the face to all women and a clear disregard for the #MeToo movement.
Feminist organization UltraViolet is absolutely right to call out this decision. By giving Shell such a prominent position, Skydance Media is sending a message that they prioritize the careers of powerful men over the safety and well-being of their
It is disheartening to see Skydance Media appointing Jeff Shell as president despite his past inappropriate relationship with a former colleague. This decision raises concerns about the company’s commitment to promoting a safe and inclusive work environment, especially in the era of #MeToo movement.
This situation highlights the importance of holding companies accountable for their actions and decisions. As consumers and supporters, we have the power to voice our concerns and demand change. By speaking out against such appointments, we can encourage companies to prioritize ethical