Christiane Amanpour to Depart CNN After 43 Years
The veteran international anchor announced her upcoming departure, with her weekly show concluding in May and her exit at the end of June 2027.
Christiane Amanpour, a veteran CNN International anchor, announced Monday that she will be leaving the network in June 2027 after more than 43 years. Her weekly show, "Amanpour," will scale back to once a week early in 2027 and conclude in May of that year.
CNN CEO Mark Thompson informed staffers of Amanpour's decision in a memo, stating that she had carefully considered the move and that discussions had been ongoing for months. Thompson expressed regret at her departure but acknowledged that the timing was right for her both personally and professionally.
Amanpour, addressing viewers and colleagues, thanked them and alluded to the challenges faced by journalists. "Now, you know I've always been fiercely independent, and I will continue to be that for you for as long as I am here and beyond," she said. "That's especially important today as we face unprecedented pressures from all sides, political, financial and also from the rising dangers in the field. I'll always be rooting for CNN maintaining its history of independent journalism."
She concluded her on-air remarks with the statement, "Remember: always be truthful, not neutral."
Her announcement came as a surprise to many at CNN, with one staffer calling her the network's "reigning titan" and another describing her as "the heart and soul of this company." Amanpour has previously drawn attention for her views on journalistic neutrality, arguing that false equivalencies can obscure the truth. She has also faced criticism for past reporting and commentary, including remarks made about the Israel-Hamas war and a comparison of the Trump presidency to Kristallnacht, for which she later walked back her comments.
Amanpour's departure marks a significant change for CNN under its new corporate ownership, with Skydance CEO David Ellison having recently completed his acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. While there has been no indication that her decision is tied to the ownership change, Amanpour has expressed concerns about Ellison's stewardship of other media properties, including CBS News.