Analyzing Former Executive’s Communication After She Blasts CNN Upon Her Resignation

Former CNN executive Allison Gollust

Allison Gollust clearly communicated how she felt about how mistreated she was after a WarnerMedia investigation led to findings that the now former chief marketing officer at CNN acted improperly, along her boss, President Jeff Zucker, by not reporting their romantic relationship.

Zucker resigned two weeks earlier.

The research was intended to look deeper into now-terminated Chris Cuomo and his efforts to help his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo against allegations of sexual harassment.

“The investigation found violations of Company policies, including CNN’s News Standards and Practices, by Jeff Zucker, Allison Gollust, and Chris Cuomo,” WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar said. Kilar did not specify exactly what those standards and practices were that Gollust violated.

Gollust was stunned, embarrassed, hurt and angry about it, communicating it to her staff.

“WarnerMedia’s statement tonight is an attempt to retaliate against me and change the media narrative in the wake of their disastrous handling of the last two weeks,” she wrote. “It is deeply disappointing that after spending the past nine years defending and upholding CNN’s highest standards of journalistic integrity, I would be treated this way as I leave.”

In a previous statement she addressed the relationship with her boss (Zucker).

“Jeff and I have been close friends and professional partners for over 20 years. Recently, our relationship changed during COVID. I regret that we didn’t disclose it at the right time. I’m incredibly proud of my time at CNN, and look forward to continuing the great work we do every day.”

That’s work she will not be able to do as she will move on to new opportunities.

The question is how will Gollust’s statements be interpreted — positively or with doubt and criticism? Some might see Gollust as being made a scapegoat and railroaded, while others might view her as being in denial about wrongdoing and her contributions to her misery.

“This is not the case of a woman who has been wronged by her former boss and romantic partner, nor her company,” says Debra Caruso Marrone, president and owner of DJC Communications, a media relations firm in New York City. “Gollust knew Jeff Zucker from their NBC days. They were in, by all reports, a consensual relationship and they both broke the corporate policy of not reporting their relationship.

“If he was forced to resign, the same should apply to her. There is no evidence that she was a victim in this scenario,” Caruso Marrone says. “To me, she is trying to repair her reputation, but not going about it in the best way. Plus, neither of these individuals is a kid. They are both older, upper level executives who should have known how to navigate a relationship and their employment.”

Gollust’s future marketability should not be overly problematic yet her defensive communication approach could cause some concern.

“It’s not that she’s not employable. She is a highly competent, seasoned professional and clearly has skills other entities would seek to employ. Again, by all accounts, having been at the highest level in the media world, she has relationships and contacts,” Caruso Marrone says, before addressing the communication, “I believe she did herself more harm than good by retaliating against her former employer when she does not seem to be in the ‘right.’ Unless there is a side to this story that has not been made public, Gollust is misguided.”

Considering this exit and how Goullust communicated her displeasure about management, it seems this dispute could be headed towards a lawsuit against CNN and WarnerMedia.

“This is a litigious society and her statement indicates that she will, indeed, follow up with a lawsuit,” Caruso Marrone states, yet adding, “Or, perhaps, she and attorneys are testing the waters to see if a costly lawsuit is worth the investment.”