In a recent exchange, CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss criticized George Clooney just after he gained French citizenship, suggesting he had contributed to the network’s decline. Clooney responded by inviting her to the newsroom, playfully implying she might benefit from some journalistic retraining.
Weiss’s email, shared with The Post by CBS’s parent company, Paramount Skydance, expressed enthusiasm: “Bonjour, Mr. Clooney! We’re huge fans of your work. It sounds like you’d like to know more about our work,” she wrote. She extended an invitation to the CBS Broadcast Center, where she is currently collaborating with colleagues on revamping the evening news, set to relaunch on January 5th.
The greeting, meant to be light-hearted, referenced the recent news about Clooney and his family obtaining French citizenship.
Weiss’s playful jab came after Clooney’s interview with CBS, where he criticized the network for yielding to President Trump and accused Weiss of undermining the integrity of journalism.
Notably, Clooney recently portrayed legendary CBS newscaster Edward R. Murrow in a Broadway adaptation of “Good Night and Good Luck,” also directing its award-winning film version years ago.
He claimed, “Bari Weiss is tearing down CBS News as we speak,” discussing his concerns about the media’s responsibility. Clooney asserted that both CBS and its competitors have failed by settling lawsuits with the president, which, he believes, negatively impacts the media landscape.
Weiss faced backlash recently after a controversial decision to delay airing a segment of “60 Minutes” focused on a notorious Salvadoran prison. Clooney’s criticism was direct but lacked detailed elaboration on Weiss’s performance.
Commentators like Starr suggested that the network hasn’t held itself accountable, unlike Murrow, who embodied responsibility in journalism. They indicated that CBS’s decision to settle with Trump over his lawsuit regarding a “60 Minutes” interview highlighted systemic issues within the media.
Earlier this year, Paramount paid Trump $16 million to settle a defamation lawsuit stemming from that interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Clooney also pointed fingers at Disney for similar issues arising from comments made by anchor George Stephanopoulos.
He remarked, “If CBS and ABC had contested these lawsuits and just said, ‘Okay, forget it,’ we wouldn’t be where we are today.” Despite obtaining French citizenship, Clooney reiterated, “My first loyalty is to my country,” hinting at his commitment to the U.S. He expressed greater concern over the deteriorating state of a viable news organization than the Hollywood chaos.
Inquiries regarding this situation have been directed toward the White House, Clooney, ABC, and Disney for further comments.
