Paramount Pictures has retreated from some policies aimed at increasing diversity among its staff, following a broader trend of companies in the entertainment industry rolling back diversity initiatives. The changes include eliminating staffing goals tied to race, ethnicity, sex, and gender, as well as stopping the collection of certain diversity data for job applicants.
The move comes amid a pushback against DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) efforts by the Trump administration. In 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down policies allowing universities to consider race in admissions. The government has also issued executive orders aimed at rolling back DEI initiatives.
Paramount’s decision was announced in an internal memo from co-CEOs Brian Robbins, George Cheeks, and Chris McCarthy. While they stated that diversity and inclusion efforts would continue, the company is re-evaluating its approach to ensure a diverse workforce.
Other companies in the industry have also scaled back their DEI initiatives. Disney recently removed references to its “Reimagine Tomorrow” initiative from regulatory filings, and Amazon has rolled back policies aimed at boosting diversity on its series and films.
The move comes as regulators review Paramount’s proposed merger with Skydance, with FCC commissioner Brendan Carr investigating the company’s DEI policies.
Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/paramount-dei-policies-trump-1236148476