Paramount, the iconic film production and distribution company, has announced the discontinuation of several diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs to comply with President Donald Trump’s anti-DEI executive orders.
The decision, made by the company’s out gay co-CEOs, George Cheeks and Chris McCarthy, along with co-CEO Brian Robbins, follows similar moves by Amazon Studios and Disney, as corporations face increasing pressure from the federal government.
Paramount Ends Key DEI Policies
In a memo to employees, the Paramount executives confirmed that the company will no longer:
- Set or use aspirational numerical goals based on race, ethnicity, sex, or gender for hiring.
- Collect applicants’ race, ethnicity, sex, or gender data on job applications.
- Dedicate 5% of its funding to DEI programs or maintain representation goals.
Despite these changes, the memo claimed that Paramount remains committed to attracting talent from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. The company has already removed all mentions of DEI from its official web pages.
Trump’s Influence & Potential FCC Intervention
Paramount’s decision aligns with Trump’s executive orders, which have targeted companies supporting DEI—especially those that receive federal funding. The administration has threatened to investigate or defund businesses engaging in diversity programs.
Variety reported that Paramount’s move may also be influenced by its $8 billion merger talks with Skydance. Trump-appointed FCC Chairman Brendan Carr could block the deal by launching a probe into Paramount’s DEI efforts, just as he has done with Comcast and NBCUniversal.
Contradictions from Paramount’s LGBTQ+ Leaders
The decision to scale back DEI initiatives comes just months after McCarthy and Cheeks publicly championed representation in media. In a 2024 interview, McCarthy shared:
“When I was growing up, there were no out LGBTQ+ people in my life or surroundings. TV provided the only way to escape, see myself, and begin to dream of a different world.”
Cheeks echoed a similar sentiment, stating: “After knowing someone personally, media representation is the number one way to foster empathy and understanding of differences.”
Paramount’s recent changes now appear to conflict with these earlier statements on inclusivity.
Consumer Backlash Against DEI Rollbacks
The rollback at Paramount reflects a broader trend, with companies like Walmart, Ford, Lowe’s, Target, and Harley-Davidson also pulling back DEI initiatives. However, brands such as Apple, Costco, Microsoft, and JPMorgan Chase have quietly maintained their commitments, according to Forbes.
Recent research suggests companies face growing consumer backlash when abandoning DEI:
- 75% of consumers say they prefer brands that support diversity.
- 80% of LGBTQ+ adults would boycott a company for rolling back DEI policies.
- Over 50% of LGBTQ+ adults would actively campaign against such a company.
In response, activists have organized an “economic blackout” this Friday, urging consumers to boycott businesses that have cut DEI programs.
The Future of DEI in Corporate America
Hunter Johnson, CEO of Xpedition, a marketing agency affiliated with the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, warned that companies may be misreading the political climate:
“The election makes it easy to assume that America is becoming more conservative… but market research paints a clear picture: America is becoming more diverse, and consumers want corporate America to reflect this diversity.”
With increasing political pressure and consumer pushback, Paramount and other major corporations may soon face tough choices on whether to reinstate—or abandon—DEI commitments altogether.
