CBS News correspondent Matt Gutman is under scrutiny due to sexual harassment allegations in a lawsuit brought forth by former ABC News producer Samira Said. The lawsuit, which was filed on Friday (August 14) in the Los Angeles Superior Court, claims that Gutman made inappropriate sexual comments during two work assignments several years prior, while he was still with ABC News.
Said asserts that during a particular assignment, Gutman began discussing a female correspondent’s looks, diminishing her professional value to a numerical rating based on her physical characteristics. Other male crew members reportedly participated in this conversation, trying to engage Said, who refused and remarked that the discussion was unsuitable.
Allegations against Matt Gutman
In another instance at a film press event, Gutman purportedly made a sexual remark about Said in the presence of colleagues, suggesting that she had a late-night rendezvous in the city.
The claims against Gutman form part of a wider legal action against ABC News and its parent company, The Walt Disney Company, which are accused of wrongful termination and neglecting to accommodate Said’s health issues. Said alleges that she was improperly terminated in 2025 after struggling with mental health problems, including the denial of medical leave despite having a psychiatrist’s endorsement.
Gutman’s CBS News tenure
Gutman, who became a part of CBS News in January 2026, had spent almost two decades at ABC News. He was the inaugural significant appointment made by CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss. Both CBS News and Gutman have refrained from commenting on the lawsuit, as they have not yet reviewed the complaint.
Said is pursuing both compensatory and punitive damages, in addition to attorney’s fees. The lawsuit underscores persistent issues regarding workplace culture and the treatment of employees within media organizations.
Meanwhile, several people on X showed interest in knowing about Gutman’s personal life. Here’s what we know about his wife and kids.
Matt Gutman wife and children
Matt maintains a low profile regarding his family life. He has been married to Daphna Venyige since 2007. On LinkedIn, Daphna describes herself as a “passionate song leader, prayer leader, and music educator,” in addition to being a Cantorial Soloist focused on Jewish religious and musical traditions.
Together, they have two children, Libby and Benjamin.
Matt Gutman’s professional life
Matt, a graduate of Williams College, resided in Israel from 2001 to 2005, where he was employed by the Jerusalem Post during the Second Intifada; he spent nearly eight years in the Middle East, reporting on conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, and other regions.
In 2008, he relocated to Miami and commenced his tenure with ABC News. From 2013 to 2018, he served as the host of the network’s Saturday morning program Sea Rescue, which focused on the efforts of the SeaWorld Rescue Team, and in 2016, it received an Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Series.
