‘I should not be in the news’: CNN boss issues a groveling apology to staffers on call after troubling Atlantic article details missteps since he took over network giant
- Chris Licht, 51, issued a groveling apology to CNN staffers in a call Monday morning
- He said he did not recognize himself in a scathing profile, but understands employees’ frustrations and is intent on earning their trust
- Licht also admitted: ‘I should not be in the news unless it’s taking arrows for you’
Embattled CNN boss Chris Licht issued a groveling apology to network staffers on a call Monday morning.
It was the first time Licht, 51, spoke publicly to his employees since a scathing profile in The Atlantic revealed his doubts with the direction of the news network during his first year at the helm.
Warner Bros. Discovery David Zaslav is said to have been displeased with the piece, entitled ‘Inside the Meltdown at CNN,’ and agreed it was mishandled, according to those familiar with his thinking who spoke to CNBC on the condition of anonymity.
In his brief remarks, the CNN boss said he did not recognize himself in the 15,000-word piece, but said understands employees’ frustrations and is intent on earning employees’ trusts, according to sources.
He also admitted: ‘I should not be in the news unless it’s taking arrows for you.’
But Licht did not say why he agreed to participate in The Atlantic’s profile and have reporter Tim Alberta follow him from personal training sessions at the gym to backstage CNN programming meetings.
Chris Licht, 51, issued a groveling apology to CNN staffers amid calls for his resignation after a scathing profile piece revealed his doubts with the news network’s direction
Licht started off his remarks Monday by congratulating Jake Tapper for his town hall with presidential candidate Nikki Haley before he started discussing the profile.
‘I know these past few days have been very hard for this group,’ he said, according to former staffer Brian Stelter.
‘I fully recognize that this news cycle and my role in it overshadowed the incredible week of reporting that we just had and distracted from the work of every single journalist in this org. And for that, I am sorry.’
