Last month, The Walt Disney Company added executives above ABC News President Kim Godwin in a move that many viewed as a demotion for the embattled leader. However, the network is defending her after a report claimed she told employees she’s still the top dog.
The New York Post reports that someone privy to a call with ABC News staffers said Godwin ensured them she was the leader of the outlet.
“Kim said on the call: ‘I’m still in charge. This is my network. And if anyone has a problem with that, you can come see me,’” the employee said. “There was dead silence after that.”
However, ABC News denied that encapsulation, saying “It is not true. She didn’t say that.”
A second source told the Post that Godwin did, in fact, say that she was still “in charge” of “my network” on the call.
Debra OConnell, a long-time Disney executive, was tabbed to lead a new division for the company, overseeing ABC News. When her addition was announced, the company said Godwin, who has served as President of the network’s news operation since 2021, had signed a new contract, but would report directly to OConnell.
“Debra is an excellent executive who has succeeded in a wide range of leadership roles around our company and knows very well the extraordinary power of ABC News and its world-class journalists,” Disney Entertainment co-chairman Dana Walden said in a February statement announcing the move.
