CNN Staff 'Celebrating' Ouster of Boss Chris Licht: 'Bad Move After Bad Move' (Source)

Chris Licht.Photo:Mike Coppola/Getty

Mike Coppola/Getty

Hours afterChris Licht was oustedas CEO and chairman of CNN, office morale has already seen improvement.

A former CNN employee tells PEOPLE that staffers are “celebrating in the newsrooms right now.”

“They say his office being on the high floor, the private planes and theTrump Town Hallwere bad move after bad move,” the source says.

On Wednesday morning, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav sent an internal memo to CNN employees announcing Licht’s departure, a move that many saw coming after a slew of missteps damaged company morale and tanked the network’s viewership.

“Unfortunately, things did not work out the way we had hoped – and ultimately that’s on me,” Zaslav continued. “I take responsibility. Needless to say, we appreciate Chris’ efforts and dedication and wish him all the best.”

Zaslav explained that an acting leadership team will guide CNN through its transition while executives conduct “a wide search, internally and externally, for a new leader.”

PEOPLE’s source says that in the wake of Licht’s departure, “People are wishing that [previous CNN CEO]Jeff Zuckerwould come back,” also clarifying that staff “really respect Amy Entelis, the interim leader.”

The news of Licht’s ousting comes days after ascathing profile of Lichtdropped inThe Atlanticand reportedly led employees to lose faith in his leadership style and abilities.

Journalist Tim Alberta spent months speaking with Licht for theAtlanticprofile, which was published last Friday and painted Licht as an executive who is out of touch with his employees, many of whom reacted to the profile with disappointment.

“TheAtlanticpiece is what was the nail in the coffin,” the source tells PEOPLE.

Donald Trump and Kaitlan Collins at the CNN Republican Presidential Town Hall.John Nowak/CNN

Licht’s ousting also comes nearly one month after adisastrous town hall with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trumpsaw the former president repeatedly bulldoze moderatorKaitlan Collinsand make largely unchecked claims on live television.

Trump reiterated lies that the 2020 elections were “rigged” and called the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the state capitol “a beautiful day.” He also lobbed insults at writer E. Jean Carroll, who won her lawsuit against him the day before for sexual abuse and defamation, calling her a “wack job.”

He went on to say he “did not know” Carroll, and suggested that her claims that he forced her against a dressing room and assaulted her at Bergdorf Goodman 27 years ago were false and referred to the alleged assault as “hanky-panky.”

At a staff meeting after the town hall, Licht reportedly defended the broadcast to staff members, even promoting Collins to a primetime slot the following week.

“I am aware that there have been people with opinions [and] backlash, and that is absolutely expected,” Licht said of the town hall, according toThe Washington Post. “And I’ll say this as clearly as I possibly can: You do not have to like the former president’s answers, but you can’t say we didn’t get them.”

Licht took over running the network in February 2022 after Zucker abruptly resigned. Since then, CNN hostBrian Stelterexited the network following the cancellation of his morning showReliable Sources,and hostJohn Hardwoodleft amid several changes at the network.Don Lemonwas alsofired from the networkin April.

On his first day on the job, Lichtsent out a memo to CNN staffsaying that “CNN must be a vital, relevant, and respected part of our culture.”

“Sadly, too many people have lost trust in the news media,” Licht wrote.

source: people.com