Warner Bros CEO Kevin Tsujihara steps down
(Reuters) - Warner Bros Chairman and Chief Executive Kevin Tsujihara has resigned from one of Hollywood’s most powerful studios following a report that he improperly helped an actress obtain roles at the studio.
“It is in the best interest of WarnerMedia, Warner Bros, our employees and our partners for Kevin to step down as Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros,” WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey said in a statement on Monday.
Tsujihara’s departure from the AT&T Inc-owned studio follows a March 6 report in the Hollywood Reporter that an actress had sought his help in landing roles after they had sex. The report included text messages between Tsujihara and the actress.
Tsujihara’s attorney said at the time that the executive did not have a direct role in the hiring of the actress in any movie. Tsujihara did not address the matter in an email to employees on Monday, seen by Reuters.
“It has become clear that my continued leadership could be a distraction and an obstacle to the company’s continued success,” he said in the email. “The hard work of everyone within our organization is truly admirable, and I won’t let media attention on my past detract from all the great work the team is doing.”
Stankey said the company will continue to work with an outside law firm to complete its investigation into the matter.
Reporting by Kenneth Li; Editing by Bill Rigby
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