#skydance

undefined | Jeff Shell leaves Paramount after allegations of SEC violations; company calls claims 'baseless' Jeff Shell, the president of Paramount Skydance Corp. (PSKY), is departing his role after a lawsuit alleged that he violated Securities and Exchange Commission rules. Paramount issued a statement saying the accusations are “baseless” and noted that Shell will pursue “forceful legal action” against the claim. The company added that Shell is stepping down from both his presidency and his board seat to focus on defending himself, while thanking him for his many contributions and describing him as a valued advisor. Shell’s exit comes amid broader uncertainty about his future at Paramount following the studio’s recent acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The merger, which saw Paramount outbid Netflix, will bring many new executives into the combined entity, and Shell was not involved in the deal negotiations, leaving his role undefined. He previously left his position as NBCUniversal CEO in 2023 after admitting to an “inappropriate relationship” with an employee, a controversy that had already placed his leadership under scrutiny. The lawsuit was filed by whistleblower and gambler R.J. Cipriani, who seeks $150 million, claiming Shell shared confidential information in violation of SEC regulations. Paramount’s statement emphasized that it has found no evidence of any securities‑law breach and reiterated that the claims are unfounded. As the legal battle unfolds, Shell has not responded to requests for comment, and the company says it will continue to focus on PSKY’s success while addressing the allegations. Read more: undefined #jeffshell #paramount #sec #securitiesandexchangecommission #skydance

undefined | Jeff Shell to step down as Paramount president after legal battle with gambler by Meg James Jeff Shell, who was appointed president of Paramount Skydance in August 2025 after David Ellison’s takeover, is expected to leave the company imminently, just eight months into his tenure. Shell joined the firm as part of Ellison’s inner circle that helped assemble the media empire’s recent acquisitions, including the $111 billion purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery. He also sits on Paramount’s board, a position he is slated to vacate alongside his executive role. Shell’s departure is tied to a high‑profile legal dispute with Las Vegas gambler and self‑styled “fixer” Robert James “R.J.” Cipriani, who sued him in Los Angeles County Superior Court on March 9, alleging fraud, breach of an oral contract and the disclosure of corporate secrets. Cipriani claims he provided “sophisticated, high‑value crisis communications services” and that Shell failed to deliver on a verbal pledge to produce an English‑language version of a Spanish‑language Roku TV music show, seeking $150 million in damages. Shell denied the accusations, filed a counterclaim asserting the men met only twice and that he owes Cipriani nothing, and maintains that Cipriani fabricated the dealings and spread falsehoods to extract a payoff. The lawsuit resurfaced after Shell’s earlier exit from NBCUniversal in 2023, which followed an internal investigation into an alleged inappropriate relationship with a journalist who subsequently left the company. The Cipriani controversy now threatens Shell’s future at Paramount at a moment when the company is focused on securing regulatory approval for its proposed Warner Bros. Discovery merger, leaving Ellison to consider whether to replace Shell with another seasoned media executive or promote from within Warner Bros. Discovery’s senior ranks. Read more: undefined #jeffshell #paramount #skydance #warnerbros.discovery #robertjamescipriani

Paramout Skydance finally outbid Netflix this week for Warner Bros Discovery, committing to paying $111 billion. But that doesn't mean CNN will be owned by the Ellisons tomorrow. @Slate@flipboard.com says that there are multiple uphill slogs ahead before the deal goes through, including legal challenges from Democratic state attorneys on antitrust grounds and regulatory hurdles in Europe. Plus, Paramount Skydance is taking on a huge amount of debt — Warner Bros. existing $33 billion load plus tens of billions of Gulf state-backed money. "There’s a not-insignificant chance the Ellisons will soon find themselves way, way over their heads, having overpaid drastically for a portfolio that’s not gonna be anywhere as lucrative for them," writes Nitish Pahwa. https://flip.it/bYfn6I #Media #Entertainment #DavidEllison #WarnerBros #Paramount #Skydance

%Billionaires Gone Wild A few stories about centibillionaires — men whose net worth exceeds $100 billion — and their role in our society: · In 2022 Elon #Musk, the richest man in the world, purchased Twitter. Since then he has turned the platform into a racist cesspool, overrun by literal Nazis. · Last year #Skydance Media, run by #DavidEllison — the son of #LarryEllison, the world’s 6th richest man — acquired #Paramount, which includes #CBS. The new management put #BariWeiss, a conservative pundit with no relevant experience, in charge of CBS News. https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/billionaires-gone-wild #ellison #plutocracy