CBS Addresses Gayle King CBS Mornings Departure Report, Clarifies Her ‘Future’ with the Network

King joined the CBS morning news show as an anchor in November 2011

CBS MORNINGS on January 9, 2024. Pictured: Gayle King
Gayle King on January 9, 2024.Credit :  Mary Kouw/CBS

NEED TO KNOW

  • CBS is addressing reports that Gayle King will depart her role as anchor of CBS Mornings when her contract ends in May 2026.
  • The journalist first joined the morning news show in November 2011
  • The network hinted at King’s future with CBS in a statement shared with PEOPLE on Thursday, Oct. 30

CBS is clarifying Gayle King’s future with the network after it was reported that she was leaving her post as the anchor of CBS Mornings.

On Thursday, Oct. 30 sources at Variety reported that King, 70, would be departing from the morning news show when her contract is set to expire in May 2026. The sources claimed that King may be stepping into a “different role” in the news division and could “potentially produce her own programming” for CBS.

CBS, however, is denying aspects of that report. “There have been no discussions with Gayle about her contract that runs through May 2026,” a CBS News spokesperson said in a statement shared with PEOPLE.

The spokesperson added, “She’s a truly valued part of CBS and we look forward to engaging with her about the future.”

NEW YORK - MAY 24: Enrique Acevedo Guests Hosts on CBS This Morning along side Co-Hosts Gayle King and Anthony Mason while Tony Dokoupil is on Parental leave. (Photo by Michele Crowe/CBS via Getty Images)
Gayle King.Michele Crowe/CBS via Getty

King joined CBS This Morning (now known as CBS Mornings) in November 2011. During her 14-year tenure, she co-anchored with Charlie Rose and Norah O’Donnell. Then, in 2017, Rose departed after he was accused of sexual harassment, which he denied.

King co-anchored the morning news show with Anthony Mason and Tony Dokoupil from May 2019 until Mason departed in August 2021. She and Dokoupil now work with Nate Burleson, who joined in September 2021.

Claims of King’s exit come amid other CBS talents leaving their roles following Skydance Media’s $8 billion acquisition of Paramount in August. CBS is one of the media company’s subsidiaries. David Ellison owns Skydance Media, and the company has expressed interest in shifting CBS News to produce apolitical content, per NPR.

CBS recently canceled The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which will end in May 2026. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, CBS Evening News anchor John Dickerson announced he is leaving the network after 16 years.

Then, on Wednesday, Oct. 29, Paramount laid off 1,000 employees, including CBS News talent — CBS Saturday Morning co-anchors Michelle Miller and Dana Jacobson — per The Los Angeles Times.

CBS correspondents and contributors, Lisa Ling, Debora Patta, Janet Shamlian, Nancy Chen and Nikki Battiste were all laid off, per The Los Angeles Times.