Paramount is settling a lawsuit for alleged discrimination against a straight white male after recently becoming the latest company to scale back its diversity, equity, and inclusion policies under President Donald Trump.
The company settled a lawsuit from a CBS script writer alleging discrimination because he is a straight white male following its decision earlier this year to comply with the Trump administration’s directives for public and private institutions to roll back DEI.
Former “SEAL Team” script coordinator and writer Brian Beneker sued CBS and Paramount in 2024 for allegedly engaging in unlawful discrimination against him because he is a straight white male. Conservative legal group America First Legal represented Beneker and announced the settlement, while taking credit for Paramount’s choice to end its DEI practices.
In February, Paramount told employees it is ending its hiring targets related to race, sex, and gender. Likewise, the media conglomerate is no longer collect demographic data on its applicants and removed a 5 percent funding bonus for programs that advance DEI. Beneker’s lawsuit alleged the company created racial quotas in its writing rooms during his time there.
“Paramount Global and CBS Studios have agreed to a settlement in a lawsuit America First Legal brought on behalf of our client Brian Beneker,” said America First Legal senior counsel Nick Barry.
“America First Legal is pleased to see Paramount and CBS publicly back off their DEI requirements and return to merit-based considerations. Diversity quotas that discriminate on the basis of race are unlawful. Others in the entertainment industry should take note.”
Beneker’s lawsuit alleged he was passed up on promotions to a full time “SEAL Team” staff writer on multiple occasions after writing freelance scripts for multiple episodes across its seasons. At the same time, the show hired at least six unqualified minority writers.
When Beneker asked the showrunner about it, the person allegedly told Beneker he did not check any of their diversity boxes. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlaws employer discrimination based on race, sex, religion, and other characteristics.
NR has reached out to Paramount and CBS for comment.
Due to Paramount’s decision to settle, Beneker and America First Legal are voluntarily dismissing his lawsuit. The case marks the latest victory for the Trump-aligned law firm in its quest to eradicate DEI policies from corporate America.
Several large corporations have walked away from DEI initiatives since President Donald Trump won the 2024 election easily over former Vice President Kamala Harris. Meta, McDonald’s, and Target are among the companies to stop their DEI policies because of an increasingly perilous legal and political environment. The Trump administration has targeted DEI in educational institutions and the federal government through workforce reductions and civil rights investigations for alleged racial discrimination.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to clarify when Paramount announced the end of its DEI programs.