\n<\/p>\n
Just a few paces from the Shari Redstone<\/strong> studio in the Paramount building near Times Square, newly minted CEO David Ellison,<\/strong> flanked by members of his executive team, met the press for the first time since wrapping up Skydance\u2019s $8 billion merger<\/a> with the legacy media giant. Immediately, Ellison found himself in the hot seat when Fox Business Network\u2019s Charlie Gasparino<\/strong> asked him to address Donald Trump<\/strong>\u2019s claim<\/a> that he\u2019d made a side deal<\/a> with the new owners that would include airing $20 million worth of ads, public service announcements, \u201cor similar programming\u201d as part of a settlement to resolve the president\u2019s lawsuit against CBS News<\/a> over the editing of a 60 Minutes<\/em> interview.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were not involved in the settlement in any way,\u201d Ellison replied, adding that Skydance \u201ccomplied with all laws, including the antibribery law.\u201d That answer wasn\u2019t going to cut it for the slew of media reporters in the room, one of whom asked whether the company has a deal with Trump to provide free airtime. \u201cWe are not going to politicize anything today,\u201d Ellison said in response.<\/p>\n Given that this was the first opportunity to pepper Ellison, 42, with questions, it seemed like the entire media-reporting corps trekked midday Thursday to Paramount\u2019s Midtown headquarters for a private luncheon. Kara Swisher<\/strong> and Ben Smith<\/strong> were on hand, along with Brian Stelter, Oliver Darcy, Peter Kafka, Sara Fischer, Ben Mullin, Lachlan Cartwright, Stephen Battaglio,<\/strong> and more. Perched on high-top tables, journalists probed Ellison and his executive team for more than 30 minutes on business and politics (and where the two collide).<\/p>\n That\u2019s unavoidable given the circumstances surrounding the acquisition, which was approved<\/a> by the FCC in July, after Paramount settled<\/a> Trump\u2019s defamation lawsuit for $16 million. Congressional leaders, including Senator Elizabeth Warren,<\/strong> have raised concerns<\/a> about Trump\u2019s alleged deal with Skydance. Paramount has denied<\/a> the accusations.<\/p>\n Following the settlement, CBS canceled<\/a> The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,<\/em> citing financial reasons. Further drama ensued in July, just one day after Paramount announced<\/a> a deal with the creators of South Park<\/em> for $1.5 billion, when the animated show kicked off its 27th season by mocking both Paramount and Trump<\/a>.<\/p>\n When Vanity Fair<\/em> asked Ellison whether he watched Wednesday\u2019s episode<\/a> of South Park,<\/em> which once again skewered the Trump administration by mocking Vice President JD Vance<\/strong> and Department of Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem<\/strong>, as well as the president, he said that he hadn\u2019t had a chance to yet, given that the episodes come out a day later on the Paramount+ streaming platform. He added that he plans to watch the episode this evening, after he finishes making the rounds on deal day. Asked whether he was concerned about the Trump administration taking issue with the show\u2019s content<\/a>, Ellison argued that the creators are \u201cequal-opportunity offenders.\u201d<\/p>\n