TV producer Trey Sherman accuses CBS of race-based lay off decisions

Trey Sherman, a TV producer recently let go from CBS News as part of a wider round of cuts at its parent company, has publicly questioned whether his dismissal was motivated by race. Sherman asserts that on his team every person of colour (POC) was removed, whereas white colleagues were quietly relocated within the company. He says he approached executives with his concerns and alleges he was misled during the process.

Sherman’s claim centres on his observation that “when I asked who was staying and who was going,” he learned that all the POC producers on his project were laid off while white staff were offered internal transfers. He says a senior executive told him relocations were attempted but ultimately impossible, only for Sherman later to discover those decisions lay with the executive himself. He labelled the scenario “racist” in a video shared online. This has triggered discussion about fairness and transparency in industry-wide staffing reductions.

The broader context involves the media industry grappling with structural inequities while also facing economic pressures. Lay-offs are not uncommon in broadcasting and production, but what distinguishes Sherman’s case is the pattern he highlights: differential treatment along racial lines in how staff were retained or dismissed. In the age of social media and public accountability, the matter has sparked commentary from viewers and industry watchers alike, many pointing out how large organisations often favour less visible, internal adjustments over public terminations for some demographics.

In a climate where many companies emphasise diversity and inclusion, Sherman’s allegations carry weight. If verified, they would represent not just a lay off but a decision that contradicts stated organisational values. Industry sources say that if a pattern emerges showing racial disparity in lay-offs, it could trigger legal scrutiny under employment equality laws and damage reputations already vulnerable amid public trust challenges.

For CBS, this moment might call for a review of internal redeployment processes and transparency around how decisions are made when restructuring. For Sherman, the move from producer to whistle-blower could represent a new chapter. He has indicated his intent to seek accountability and to raise awareness of what he sees as a systemic issue. Whether the company will respond publicly remains to be seen, but the conversation has been ignited.