Paramount's Delrahim slams 'fear-mongering' and partisan politics clouding Warner Bros. deal
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Paramount Chief Executive David Ellison has been circling the globe, meeting government regulators who will ultimately decide the fate of his controversial $111-billion takeover of Warner Bros.Discovery.
Last week, Ellison spent two hours answering questions from U.S.Justice Department antitrust lawyers in a bid to secure a key government approval — one that few people believe is in doubt because of President Trump’s strong support of tech billionaire Larry Ellison and his son’s ambitions to amass more power.
Throughout his travels, David Ellison has been accompanied by a savvy wingman: Makan Delrahim.Delrahim, Paramount’s chief legal officer, served as the nation’s top antitrust regulator in the Justice Department during Trump’s first term.The 56-year-old Iranian American, who grew up in Los Angeles, is the architect of shrewd moves that have brought Paramount within reach of its blockbuster merger that would redefine Hollywood.
Hollywood Inc.Ellison’s close ties to President Trump, and widespread concerns about the future of Hollywood, drive anxiety over the tech scion’s $111-billion deal for Warner Bros.
Discovery.Politics have permeated the process — even before Trump announced he would get involved.Opponents have been suspicious of the Ellisons, given the family’s ties to Trump and programming changes to redefine Paramount’s CBS, including last month’s departure of late-night comedian Stephen Colbert and a shakeup at “60 Minutes,” CBS’ newsmagazine.
Buying Warner Bros.Discovery would give the Ellisons control of both CBS News and CNN.
Paramount’s bid for Warner Bros.has sparked dread in Hollywood for another reason, too: Thousands of jobs already have vanished through a string of media mergers.
More than 5,000 artists and entertainment industry workers have signed an open letter, calling on California Atty.General Rob Bonta to try to bl...