Why Did Allison Gollust Resign From CNN?

Chief Marketing Officer for CNN, Allison Gollust is stepping down from her position due to the media giant’s attempt to retaliate against her for failing to disclose her romantic relationship with former President of CNN, Jeff Zucker.

Her action is coming just two weeks after Jeff Zucker resigned from his position as president of CNN for failing to disclose his romantic relationship with Gollust, and a little over two months after Chris Cuomo was terminated by the network.

“Earlier today, Allison Gollust resigned from CNN following the conclusion of the Company’s investigation into issues associated with Chris Cuomo and former Governor Andrew Cuomo,” the note reads. “Based on interviews of more than 40 individuals and a review of over 100,000 texts and emails, the investigation found violations of Company policies, including CNN’s News Standards and Practices, by Jeff Zucker, Allison Gollust and Chris Cuomo”, Jason Kilar, the CEO of the network’s parent company WarnerMedia, wrote in a memo.

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“I realize this news is troubling, disappointing, and frankly, painful to read. These are valid feelings many of you have,” Kilar wrote. “We have the highest standards of journalistic integrity at CNN, and those rules must apply to everyone equally”, he added.

Speaking about her resignation, Gollust said, “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.”

“Jeff and I have been close friends and professional partners for over 20 years,” her statement read. “Recently, our relationship changed during COVID. I regret that we didn’t disclose it at the right time”, she said.

Cuomo, 51, was terminated by CNN in December, for his involvement in the defense of his brother Andrew Cuomo, who resigned as governor of New York in August following allegations of sexual misconduct.