Gayle King Clarifies Whether She’s Leaving CBS Mornings amid Conflicting Reports About Her Contract

Gayle King has addressed speculation that she’s preparing to leave her role as co-host of CBS Mornings next year.

Speaking to TMZ outside the CBS Broadcast Center in Manhattan on Friday, Oct. 31, King said she was unaware of any plans for her departure or changes to her contract — despite the recent wave of layoffs and major exits at the network.

“What I’m hearing in the building is not what I’m reading in the press,” King explained, referencing a report from Variety published a day earlier that claimed she might be exiting the show. “And what I’m not going to do is negotiate in the media.”

King added that CBS News executives have reassured her of their support. “They’ve told me they like the job I’m doing and want me to stay,” she said, adding that she has “no idea” whether the new management team will make changes when her contract expires in May 2026. “I like the job and the people I work with,” she continued. “I don’t know what to tell you.”

According to Variety, King — who has been with the morning news program since January 2012 — could transition into another position within the CBS News division, potentially producing her own projects while stepping away from daily co-hosting duties.

A CBS News spokesperson responded to the report, clarifying: “There have been no discussions with Gayle about her contract that runs through May 2026. She’s a truly valued part of CBS, and we look forward to engaging with her about the future.”

The broader media landscape at CBS’s parent company has been in flux following corporate changes. On Oct. 29, Paramount Skydance began implementing companywide layoffs, just months after the Trump administration approved its $8 billion merger with Skydance, the studio founded by David Ellison.

“These decisions are never made lightly, especially given their effect on our colleagues who have made meaningful contributions to the company,” Ellison, Paramount’s CEO, wrote in a memo to staff obtained Wednesday. He explained that the restructuring aims to reduce redundancies and streamline roles as the company redefines its strategic priorities post-merger.

Earlier in the week, CBS Evening News co-anchor John Dickerson announced he would leave the network at the end of 2025 after 16 years. “I am extremely grateful for all that CBS gave me — the work, the audience’s attention, and the honor of being a part of the network’s history,” Dickerson wrote on Instagram. “I will miss you.”

King, who helped relaunch CBS This Morning (now CBS Mornings) in 2012 alongside Charlie Rose and Erica Hill, has remained a central figure through multiple format and personnel changes. Rose exited following sexual misconduct allegations (which he denied), while Hill was replaced by Norah O’Donnell, who went on to anchor CBS Evening News in 2019.

Today, King co-hosts CBS Mornings with Tony Dokoupil and former NFL player Nate Burleson, maintaining her reputation as one of the most steady and recognizable figures in morning television.