A former CNN anchor ridiculed Allison Gollust’s claim that her romantic relationship with Jeff Zucker started through the pandemic, saying the affair dated again a few years and that anyone can “google” it.
Soledad O’Brien, who held numerous roles on the community from 2003 to 2013, described Zucker’s relationship with Gollust, CNN’s chief advertising and marketing officer, as an “open secret” amongst staffers courting again greater than a decade.
That’s although Gollust claimed on Wednesday her relationship with Zucker solely turned romantic through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Jeff and I’ve been shut associates {and professional} companions for over 20 years. Just lately, our relationship modified throughout COVID,” Gollust mentioned in an announcement. “I remorse that we didn’t disclose it on the proper time. I’m extremely pleased with my time at CNN and look ahead to persevering with the good work we do on a regular basis.”
Gollust’s assertion got here regardless of extensively distributed accounts of their affair courting again for years, together with experiences that it led to Zucker’s divorce from his spouse Caryn in 2018. In her tell-all memoir revealed final fall, Katie Couric dished that Zucker and Gollust were “joined at the hip” after they labored collectively at NBC greater than a decade in the past.
“I discover the ‘it began throughout Covid’ declare fairly amusing,” O’Brien wrote on Twitter.
“I encourage you to google the 2 events and skim the small print about their relationship that dates again years,” O’Brien mentioned. “That mentioned, I’m certain firm emails can simply decide if she’s mendacity on this assertion.”
“Once more—It was an open secret and I haven’t even labored there for like 8 years,” she added.
Zucker shocked the media trade by asserting his rapid resignation on Wednesday morning. In a memo to staffers, he admitted that he didn’t correctly disclose his relationship with Gollust, with whom he beforehand labored at NBC.
“As a part of the investigation into Chris Cuomo’s tenure at CNN, I used to be requested a couple of consensual relationship with my closest colleague, somebody I’ve labored with for greater than 20 years,” Zucker mentioned the a memo. “I acknowledged the connection advanced in recent times. I used to be required to reveal it when it started however I didn’t. I used to be improper. In consequence, I’m resigning at this time.”
Sources told the Post that Zucker and Gollust had been recognized to be in a relationship for greater than 10 years.
A trio of CNN executives – Michael Bass, Amy Entelis and Ken Jautz – will function interim co-heads of the community till WarnerMedia’s pending merger with Discovery is finalized.
