A former colleague of CBS journalist Matt Gutman has requested that a California judge dismiss him from her workplace harassment lawsuit. Samira Said, an ex-ABC field producer, filed a request to remove Gutman as a defendant from her wrongful termination suit against ABC and its parent company, Disney.
Said had accused Gutman of making crude sexual remarks during their time working together, which she alleged created a hostile work environment. Her attorneys filed the dismissal request in Los Angeles County Superior Court, though the specific reasons for the dismissal remain unclear. The filing states that Said agrees to dismiss the individual defendants, including Gutman, without prejudice. However, ABC and Disney are to remain defendants in the case.
The request was filed weeks after Said initiated her lawsuit on August 14, alleging instances of discrimination, retaliation, and harassment involving Gutman. According to the lawsuit, Said claimed she was placed on an all-male team that included Gutman for an assignment. She alleged that Gutman then initiated a conversation rating another female colleague's appearance, reducing her professional standing to a numerical score based on looks. The suit states that other male crew members joined in, and they allegedly attempted to involve Said in the conversation, which she reportedly declined, deeming it inappropriate.
On another occasion, Said alleged that she and Gutman clashed after he questioned whether she wanted to leave a press day event due to an alleged "after-hours date in the city." Said claimed Gutman made this remark audibly to others, which she said demeaned her and reduced her professional judgment to a sexualized stereotype.
Said is suing ABC and Disney, claiming she was wrongfully terminated in 2025 after experiencing mental health issues and that the companies failed to provide required reasonable accommodations under California law. She is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, along with attorneys’ fees.
Gutman, 48, spent 17 years at ABC News before joining CBS. He recently filled in as an anchor for the "CBS Evening News" and drew higher ratings than the regular host. Representatives for Gutman, Said, and Disney have been contacted for comment.