Former ABC News producer accuses CBS News correspondent Matt Gutman of harassment

A former ABC News field producer has accused CBS News chief correspondent Matt Gutman of workplace harassment, alleging in a wrongful-termination lawsuit that he made inappropriate and sexualized comments while the two worked together at ABC, according to multiple reports. 

Samira Said, who worked for ABC News from May 2021 until March 2025, filed the lawsuit Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court against Gutman, ABC News and parent company The Walt Disney Co.

The lawsuit alleges Gutman contributed to a hostile work environment through two incidents during his time at ABC News. Gutman left ABC after nearly two decades and joined CBS News on Jan. 5, 2026, as chief correspondent, becoming the first major on-air hire made under CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss.

In one incident described in the complaint, Said alleges Gutman began a conversation with male colleagues in which they rated the appearance of a female correspondent while waiting in a public line during an assignment.

According to the lawsuit, members of the crew discussed the woman’s physical appearance and attempted to involve Said in the conversation. Said allegedly declined and told the group the discussion was inappropriate.

The lawsuit describes a second incident in which Said and Gutman disagreed over whether a reporting team should leave a work site while covering a movie press event. Said alleges Gutman responded in front of colleagues by suggesting she wanted to remain in the city because she had an after-hours date.

The complaint characterizes the comment as a sexualized insinuation that diminished Said’s professional judgment.

Gutman is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, though many of Said’s allegations concern ABC News and Disney’s handling of her employment after she returned from an extended medical leave.

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Said alleges she experienced severe psychological symptoms after ABC assigned her to cover the May 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, including interviewing children who survived the attack.

She took medical leave from August 2022 until January 2023 and alleges her psychiatrist subsequently cleared her to return with workplace accommodations intended to limit exposure to trauma triggers.

According to the lawsuit, ABC denied the requested accommodations. Said alleges Los Angeles bureau chief David Herndon told her she could not return to her previous role unless she could work without restrictions and maintain full-week availability.

Said claims she received less favorable treatment after seeking accommodations, including being assigned weekend desk shifts.

The complaint also alleges Said suffered a workplace injury in January 2025 while covering the Los Angeles wildfires and other severe weather. She says heavy equipment struck her foot, causing a bone contusion. A Disney physician evaluated her and determined she did not need medical leave, according to the lawsuit.

ABC News terminated Said on March 5, 2025. She is seeking compensatory and punitive damages as well as attorneys’ fees.

Multiple outlets’ requests for comment from ABC, CBS and Gutman’s reps did not receive a reply.