A major legal battle over CBS Studios’ hiring practices has wrapped up without the dramatic courtroom finale some had hoped for. After more than a year of legal wrangling, CBS and freelance writer Brian Beneker have settled a lawsuit that challenged the network’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.
Filed in February 2024 , Beneker’s lawsuit claimed he was passed over for a full-time position on “SEAL Team” simply because he’s a white male, while CBS was busy checking demographic boxes instead of hiring the best talent. Beneker sued in claiming he wasn’t given a permanent gig “due to his race, sex, and heterosexuality” and the “illegal policy” of diversity, equity and inclusion measures. This argument has been gaining traction among critics who see merit taking a backseat to identity politics in Hollywood.
On April 18, U.S. District Judge Anne Hwang officially dismissed the case “with prejudice” (legal speak for “don’t even think about filing this again”).
“On April 18, 2025, Plaintiff Brian Beneker (“Plaintiff”) and Defendants CBS Studios Inc. and Paramount Global (“Defendants” and together with Plaintiff, the “Parties”) filed a Joint Stipulation For Dismissal with Prejudice. Having considered the Parties’ Joint Stipulation for Dismissal with Prejudice, the files and records of this action, and all other matters properly submitted to the Court, and good cause appearing therefor, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Parties’ Joint Stipulation for Dismissal with Prejudice is GRANTED. This entire action is dismissed with prejudice. Each party shall bear their own attorneys’ fees and costs,” according to a two-page order posted on the Central District of California court docket.
While the exact settlement terms are under wraps, word on the street is that Beneker got some cash—though probably not enough to buy a Malibu beach house. And CBS didn’t admit they did anything wrong or make any public statements about the outcome. Still, this marks the first time a major studio has opened its wallet to settle with someone claiming they were unfairly rejected for not fitting the “right” demographic profile.
The America First Legal Foundation, which backed Beneker’s lawsuit, was quick to declare victory. “America First Legal is pleased to see Paramount and CBS publicly back off their DEI requirements and return to merit-based considerations,” said AFLF Senior Counsel Nick Barry in a statement. The timing is interesting, to say the least. CBS had already faced a setback when its attempt to dismiss the case failed in August 2024. With the studio preparing for a potential Skydance merger, settling probably seemed like a smart move to avoid further complications.
Adding to CBS’s headaches, the Trump administration has been turning up the heat on media companies it perceives as biased. The FCC, now led by Trump appointee Brendan Carr, is reportedly slow-walking the regulatory review of the Paramount-Skydance merger—a not-so-subtle way of applying pressure.
The network is also dealing with a $20 billion lawsuit from President Trump himself over a 60 Minutes interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. The pressure apparently became too much for 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens, who resigned this week, writing in a staff memo: “It has become clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it… So, having defended this show — and what we stand for — from every angle, over time with everything I could, I am stepping aside.”
This settlement could open the floodgates for similar lawsuits from other professionals who believe they’ve been unfairly passed over due to DEI policies. For the first time, a major studio faced actual consequences for its hiring practices, potentially signaling a shift in how Hollywood approaches its much-touted inclusion initiatives.
A clear legal defeat would have sent a stronger message to the industry and might have forced a more meaningful reevaluation of DEI policies across Hollywood. Instead of a definitive precedent, the industry is left with a quiet settlement that allows studios to continue similar practices while just being more careful about how they implement them. The opportunity for real, impactful change that would prioritize merit over demographic quotas has been missed—at least for now.
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