Paramount’s official X account was briefly compromised as David Ellison presses a $108 billion hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, which would include CNN and HBO. Ellison, who led an August merger between Paramount and Skydance, is courting Gulf sovereign funds and has reported backing from Jared Kushner’s firm. The move raises regulatory and editorial questions as Paramount installs conservative leadership at some news units and pursues high-profile content decisions.
Paramount’s X Account Briefly Compromised as David Ellison Pursues $108B Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery
Variety via X
The official X account for Paramount Pictures — part of David Ellison’s media group after the Skydance merger — appeared to be compromised on Tuesday when its bio was briefly changed to read "Proud arm of the fascist regime," according to Variety. The profile was quickly restored to its original description.
The incident came a day after Ellison’s Paramount Skydance announced a $108 billion hostile bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, including high-profile assets such as CNN and HBO. Paramount did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison speaks during the Bloomberg Screentime conference in Los Angeles on October 9, 2025. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images) / PATRICK T. FALLON / AFP via Getty Images
Who Is Behind the Bid?
David Ellison, 42, gained control of Paramount following an $8 billion merger between the studio and his company Skydance in August. He is the son of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison. The Wall Street Journal reported that Larry Ellison told former President Donald Trump that Netflix’s deal with Warner Bros. could harm competition; Trump later told reporters the transaction "could be a problem." (Wall Street Journal)
Plans, Funding and Political Connections
David Ellison has reportedly told Trump administration officials he would make editorial and strategic changes at CNN if his takeover succeeds. Ellison told CNBC that he wants to "build a scaled, new service" focused on trust and appealing to Americans in the political center.
Jared Kushner's company was revealed to be part of the Paramount bid to buy the Warner Bros. Discovery empire in a regulatory filing. / Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images
Ellison is said to be courting sovereign wealth funds in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi to help finance the bid. U.S. regulators have indicated that, as of reporting, that backing does not meet the threshold to trigger a Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) review. Jared Kushner is also reported to be a financial backer through his firm, Affinity Partners.
Editorial Changes and Controversies
Since Skydance’s involvement, Paramount’s restructurings have included changes at legacy news outlets. Paramount Skydance installed Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief at CBS News — a move widely viewed as shifting the outlet’s editorial tone and elevating conservative voices.
Separately, Paramount has greenlit a revival of the Rush Hour franchise with director Brett Ratner attached. Ratner, who has denied multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, is a controversial figure whose involvement has drawn scrutiny. Ratner also directed a documentary about First Lady Melania Trump that was released on Amazon Prime Video.
What To Watch
Key items to follow: whether the purported X account compromise is part of a broader security issue; how much external financing Ellison secures and whether it triggers regulatory review; and what editorial plans—if any—would mean for CNN and other news properties under a potential new owner.
Help us improve.
