EXCLUSIVE: As Jeff Shell prepares to re-enter the C-suite leagues under the proposed Skydance-Paramount merger , we hear there’s a lot of digging to find some dirt on the former NBCUniversal executive to either derail or taint his new job before it starts.
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Shell exited NBCU as CEO in April 2023 due to a complaint of inappropriate conduct by CNBC anchor Hadley Gamble. Once David Ellison’s acquisition of the Sheri Redstone-dominated National Amusements was announced last month, it also was revealed that Shell was named President of Paramount Global.
Rumors have been floating around in recent weeks about other Shell incidents with NBCU female employees. We investigated them and learned that these incidents were made known, were looked into by NBCU human resources and led to nothing. We also understand that these allegations were made known to the Ellisons.
Some might want to paint Shell as a Les Moonves redux, but we hear there’s more smoke than fire, as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and the Hollywood trades are still trying to stoke the embers.
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Among the rumored bits in Shell’s file at NBCUniversal were some inappropriate photos on his phone. In addition, there was a Universal film label executive who sought out a drink meeting with Shell at a London hotel bar. He then reportedly went off to dinner, and they never encountered each other again. There were inquiries into both incidents at NBCUniversal, but nothing was proved to be afoul with Shell.
Shell’s placement at the top of the Paramount totem pole around Skydance has raised eyebrows around town because of their rumored plans to bring former Pixar executive Jon Lasseter over to the Melrose lot; that executive was let go by Disney in 2018 for a long history of inappropriate conduct .
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It’s worth noting that these rumors about Shell are bubbling up with about a week left in the 45-day go-shop period for Paramount in which the entertainment conglom can solicit other bidders — one of the parties kicking the tires being Edgar Bronfman Jr. Should no other bid be accepted by Paramount, then the Skydance merger, which entails an $8 billion investment by David Ellison and other parties, is expected to go through some time in the first half of 2025; the corporate marriage requiries the standard government signoffs from the DOJ, SEC and FCC.
Everyone knows that Hollywood is a sharp-elbow town as everyone stabs you in the back.
In fact, there is one former studio executive who had made it very clear, sources tell us, that he envisions a pathway to his former glory. Some wonder if this could be some of the origins of the rumors around Shell.
At the same time, it seems some high-level former corporate companions of Shell’s at NBCU/Comcast are displeased with his talents now showing up at a rival studio, sources tell us.
“Shell made one mistake, and he paid for it by losing his job at NBCUniversal,” an individual with knowledge of the situation tells Deadline.
“That’s it, that’s all there is.”
Paramount Begins Laying Off 15% Of U.S. Staff; Co-CEOs Tell Staffers Media Company Has Reached "An Inflection Point" As "Industry Continues To Evolve"
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