Warner Bros. Discovery, amid a war on diversity, equity and inclusion programs by the Trump administration, is jettisoning the diversity and equity parts of its DEI initiatives.
Going forward, WBD’s “overarching work in this space will now be referred to as Inclusion,” according to a memo sent to staffers Thursday. The message, obtained by Variety, was sent to all global employees from head of HR Jennifer Remling and Asif Sadiq, who is now chief inclusion officer. Formerly, Sadiq’s title was “chief global diversity, equity and inclusion officer.”
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The company, the two execs said, is making the changes to ensure “we continue to comply with the evolving legal landscape in the United States and around the world.” The memo was distributed Thursday, when Warner Bros. Discovery also reported fourth-quarter 2024 results.
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WBD’s update comes after DEI changes at other media companies including Paramount Global, Disney and Amazon Studios. President Trump, on his second day in office, ordered federal agencies to terminate DEI initiatives and instructed the heads of U.S. agencies to scrutinize the practices and policies of private companies and find ways to “deter DEI programs or principles.”
Warner Bros. Discovery’s Remling and Sadiq said renaming the DEI group “better aligns our language with our focus throughout our company, in our industry, and across our content,” the execs wrote. “We’re updating the language we use to ensure the intent and impact of our actions are clear; you will see this new approach being updated on wbd.com as well as on our internal channels.”
Along with the name change, Warner Bros. Discovery will now have “a uniform and consistent application process across our talent programs,” including internships, mentoring and other development programs, according to the memo. “All of our programs will be open and welcoming to all applicants, with the goal of cultivating an inclusive home for world-class talent.”
WBD also will no longer participate in workplace surveys conducted by third parties, but the company will “continue to gather internal data that allows us to understand how our employee base reflects the audience we serve,” the execs wrote.
What will not change, according to Remling and Sadiq, is Warner Bros. Discovery’s commitment to “growing an inclusive team.” They said that “One of the ways we do this is through our best-in-class recruiting and training programs, which provide essential skills training, education, and job opportunities to build career pathways into the entertainment industry for people of all backgrounds.”
“Telling stories that shape culture and engage people all over the world takes a commitment to diverse voices, perspectives and experiences,” the two execs said in the memo. “Fully representing our audiences is critical to our business, our content, and our culture. We are now, and always will be, committed to ensuring our values underpin how we operate as a company.”