Following his departure from CNN, former CEO Chris Licht was seen at Ralph Lauren's Polo Bar in Manhattan with his former chief of staff, Devan Cayea, and was photographed with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Although a Pelosi spokesperson clarified to Fox News Digital that the encounter was brief and not a shared meal, the sighting comes amidst a turbulent week for Licht.
Licht's tenure at CNN ended abruptly after just over a year marked by internal conflicts and criticism of the network's perceived partisan leanings. His attempts to broaden the network's appeal and moderate its coverage faced resistance from within the newsroom. A recent profile in The Atlantic further exposed these tensions, ultimately contributing to his dismissal.
Internal sources cited by Fox News Digital described Licht's efforts as being met with a “cancel culture” mentality, claiming he was ousted for attempting to make the network less biased. Criticisms from within CNN included complaints about Licht's perceived detachment from the newsroom, his criticism of past COVID coverage, and the controversial town hall with former President Trump.
In a statement following his departure, Licht acknowledged the challenges of his role while expressing optimism for his future endeavors. He wished the CNN team well and thanked them for the opportunity.
