A bombshell media report in October 2025 claimed that longtime CBS News host Gayle King was out at the network when her contract was up. The shocking news came amid a major shakeup at the network after a merger with Paramount Global and Skydance Media.
Hundreds of staffers were let go after the merger. In recent months, several producers and on-air talent have left CBS News, including Anderson Cooper. The writing seemed to be on the wall for Gayle King. She broke her silence after her fate with the network was finally revealed. Keep reading to find out more about the much-talked-about situation.
Gayle King Staying Or Leaving CBS Mornings? Her Fate Finally Revealed
Gayle King’s future at CBS Mornings was put into even more doubt when her co-host left after a huge promotion. Tony Dokoupil replaced John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois as anchor for CBS Nightly News. However, his job is allegedly in jeopardy after failing to bring in ratings.
CBS was reportedly trying to woo Hoda Kotb to take over the morning program. But she’s temporarily back at the Today Show amid Savannah Guthrie’s absence. Variety reported that Gayle King’s fate was finally settled. She’s staying at CBS Mornings alongside Nate Burleson. There was no word on whether the network plans to add a third anchor to replace Tony Dokoupil.
Longtime News Anchor Breaks Her Silence
Gayle King refused to discuss her contract negotiations after the bombshell report from Variety in October about her rumored exit. She did, however, blast her co-workers during a staff meeting in January for gossiping about her status with CBS.
The CBS Mornings host finally broke her silence in a statement to Variety. “Rumors of my demise were inaccurate and greatly exaggerated,” she said, paraphrasing Mark Twain’s famous quote about his rumored death.
“CBS News is my longtime home, and I am committed to our mission. I’m excited about continuing at ‘CBS Mornings.’ As always, I’m open to new adventures here and ready to go. It took a minute, but we got there. And now that we are here, I am all in,” Gayle King added.
There you have it. Gayle King is staying at CBS News, at least for now. Other details, such as the length and pay rate of her new contract, weren’t revealed. She reportedly made $10 million a year in her previous contract after taking a pay cut.
Embattled CBS News Editor-In-Chief Bari Weiss Weighs In On Decision
Gayle King has been the face of CBS Mornings since 2012. After 14 years, she’s not going anywhere. Bari Weiss took over as editor-in-chief of the network’s news division after the merger. She’s faced a lot of criticism in her short tenure. However, Gayle King defended her during the staff meeting.
In turn, Bari Weiss gave a gushing statement about Gayle King staying at CBS Mornings. “There is only one Gayle King. We’re so proud that she’ll continue to call CBS home,” the editor-in-chief said.
Tell us your reaction to Gayle King’s fate at CBS News in the comments below.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger
