Paramount TV chief Amy Powell fired over alleged insensitive remarks

Paramount TV chief Amy Powell fired over alleged insensitive remarks

She joined Paramount in 2004 and was appointed as chief in 2013

Amy Powell

MUMBAI: After 14 years, chief of Paramount TV Amy Powell has been fired over alleged insensitive remarks – which she has emphatically denied.

The incident occurred during a studio notes call for Paramount Network's First Wives Club reboot, which is being penned by Girls Trip co-writer Tracy Oliver and will feature a predominantly black cast.

Paramount CEO Jim Gianopulos was quoted stating, “Last week, multiple individuals came to us to raise concerns around comments made by Amy Powell in a professional setting, which they believed were inconsistent with our company’s values. Having spent the past several days conducting a thorough investigation into this matter and speaking to those who were present, our human resources and legal teams came to the same conclusion, and we have made the decision to terminate Amy’s employment, effective immediately,” according to Hollywoodreporter.com.

The company immediately started looking for Powell’s replacement. In the interim, Paramount COO Andrew Gumpert will provide operational support.

“There is no truth to the allegation that I made insensitive comments in a professional setting — or in any setting. The facts will come out and I will be vindicated,” Powell responded in a statement.

Powell joined Paramount in 2004 and was appointed as chief of its relaunched TV division in 2013.