CBS star Matt Gutman’s scandalous past resurfaces after shocking sexual harassment lawsuit

Embattled CBS News anchor Matt Gutman’s checkered past has come into focus as he faces a bombshell sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a former ABC News colleague.

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The “CBS Evening News” host, one of the network’s first high-profile hires last year, made several missteps and critical errors during his 17 years as a correspondent for ABC News.

One of Gutman’s first major slip-ups came when he falsely reported on-air at ABC that all four of late basketball star Kobe Bryant’s children died in a January 2020 helicopter crash. Only Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna died in the crash.

ABC News suspended Gutman for the reporting screw-up, saying his “initial reporting was not accurate and failed to meet our editorial standards.”

Gutman later corrected the error and publicly apologized to the Bryant family.

About a year later, in February 2021, Gutman landed in hot water with ABC News leadership again.

While visiting a hospital without the network’s approval, he violated its COVID-19 policy that any hospital visit must be approved by the news department in advance. Gutman was suspended again for his conduct.

In late 2025, while covering the killing of Charlie Kirk, Gutman landed in hot water for calling a text exchange between alleged shooter Tyler Robinson and Robinson’s romantic partner “very touching.”

“A very intimate portrait into this relationship between the suspect’s roommate and the suspect himself, with him repeatedly calling his roommate, who is transitioning, calling him, ‘my love’ and ‘I want to protect you my love,”‘ Gutman said at the time.

“So, it was this duality of someone who the attorney said not only jeopardized the life of Charlie Kirk and the crowd… And then on the other hand, he was, you know, speaking so lovingly about his partner.”

After extensive backlash, he admitted his comments missed the mark.

“Yesterday I tried to underscore the jarring contrast between this cold-blooded assassination of Charlie Kirk – a man who dedicated his life to public dialogue — and the personal, disturbing texts read aloud by the Utah County Attorney at the press conference. I deeply regret that my words did not make that clear,” Gutman said.

“But let there be zero doubt here: I unequivocally condemn this horrific crime and the pain it caused Charlie Kirk’s family, those who were forced to witness it at UVU, and the millions of people he inspired.”

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On Friday, Gutman, was sued by former ABC News field producer Samira Said, who accused him of making inappropriate sexual remarks during two assignments several years ago.

The events detailed in the suit allegedly took place during her employment from 2021 to 2025.

In one alleged incident, Said claimed Gutman began discussing and rating the appearance of a female correspondent while the two were waiting on a public line during an assignment.

The suit said Gutman “initiated a discussion rating a female correspondent’s appearance and reducing her professional standing to a numerical score based on her physical attributes.”

Other male crew members allegedly joined the conversation and tried to get Said to weigh in. She refused and told them the discussion was inappropriate, according to the lawsuit.

Said also alleged a second incident occurred while she and Gutman were covering a press event for a movie release. The two disagreed about whether they should leave the work site.

Gutman allegedly responded with a “sexualized insinuation” about Said in front of several coworkers.

“In front of multiple coworkers, Gutman responded by making a sexualized insinuation that Said must have an after-hours date in the city,” the suit said.

Said alleges the comments were demeaning and “reduced [Said’s] professional judgment to a sexualized stereotype.”

Weiss hired Gutman shortly after she took the reins at CBS News in October 2025.

Gutman has yet to speak out on the lawsuit.

The California Post reached out to ABC, CBS, and Gutman for comment.

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