Paramount Global has terminated the position of its Global Head of Inclusion, Marva Smalls, amidst an ongoing lawsuit regarding alleged discriminatory hiring practices. Smalls will transition to a new role with limited authority, signaling a shift in the company’s focus away from inclusion initiatives.
The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Smalls would be moving into a new role working with the office of CEO and Chairman Shari Redstone, starting January 1st. In her new position, Smalls will focus on the transition to the post-merger state of things. However, the explanation for this new role appears convoluted and does not sound like there is actually a new position for her.
“We want to acknowledge the tremendous impact Marva has had in her current role at Paramount and thank her for her many contributions,” the co-CEOs said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “Her career in entertainment started at Nickelodeon where she created the public affairs division and built programs to give Paramount credibility among regulators, advocates and community-based organizations.”
Smalls claimed that she notified the CEO a year ago about her intention to leave by January 1st, which Paramount allowed for politeness’ sake. However, this does not change the fact that she is being removed from her previous position. Her new role, starting January 1st, will involve helping to transition all of her responsibilities and work to other people, subject to a plan she is just starting to put together.
Smalls’ position as Executive Vice President at Paramount held significant weight within the company, and she was known for using her influence to push for inclusion and diversity hiring initiatives. These efforts may have contributed to the Brian Beneker lawsuit, which accuses Paramount of discriminating against a white male candidate.
Adam Post speculates that the person who discriminated against Beneker was in fact Smalls.
The termination of Smalls’ position and the transition to a new role with limited authority does indeed indicate a shift in Paramount’s focus away from aggressive diversity policies that may have led to backlash. The ongoing lawsuit against Paramount, which CBS tried and failed to have dismissed, highlights serious allegations of discriminatory hiring practices, revealing potential legal vulnerabilities for the studio.
As Paramount faces scrutiny over its handling of diversity and equity issues, the future direction of the company’s inclusion initiatives and how they will be managed remains uncertain. The transition of power and restructuring of Smalls’ position suggest a reevaluation of executive roles, aiming for more balanced authority in hiring practices, and a lot less emphasis on the importance of DEI.
