ABC News Staffers Allegedly Make Video Attacking Ben Sherwood (VIDEO)

UPDATE: An "ABC insider" told The Hollywood Reporter's Linsday Powers that ABC President Ben Sherwood "laughed off" a video attacking him. The source also said it was unlikely that current ABC staffers produced the video. "We think the people who work here are much more talented and creative," the source said.

ORIGINAL POST: Current and former ABC News staffers have allegedly produced a video attacking their new president, Ben Sherwood.

On Monday, a video was posted on Vimeo by a user dubbed "Roone Arledge," the name of the legendary former head of ABC News. The video shows footage of the speech Sherwood gave to staffers upon his arrival in the new post earlier this month, interspersed with text that, to say the least, is not complimentary.

The most serious charge? That Sherwood "told a lie about his mother being sick" when he left "Good Morning America," where he had been executive producer, in 2006. The real reason he left, the video alleges, was that he was about to be fired for having "no strategy." The video provides no evidence for this claim, however. Sherwood has said publicly that his mother is a survivor of ovarian cancer.

The video also dubs Sherwood "shallow and cloying," and says that he will "preside over the final dismantling of ABC News."

The people who made the video contacted Gawker, saying they were current and former ABC News staffers.

WATCH:

Ben Sherwood:The Movie from Roone Arledge on Vimeo.

Comments

[oceanlover]

05:41 PM on 12/24/2010

And so it goes from very, very bad, (David Westin) to even worse (Ben Sherwood). Not surprising. ABC management are grasping and desperate. The news division is in the toilet. Let's see where they are a year from now. Hope springs eternal but it does look incredibly dreary with this pick.

[dwhuston]

12:18 PM on 12/24/2010

Quite frankly I think the commentary on the video is BS. If it was done by current and former staffers they are helping to torpedo the company they are working for. They need to grow some B@//s and try to fix the company instead of undermining it. Its hard for me to believe that concerned employees would post something like this.

Anyone could have done it. Faux Noise, CBS, NBC etc.

[ChiBloger]

01:51 PM on 12/23/2010

“The people who made the video contacted Gawker, saying they were current and former ABC News staffers.”
Well, God Speed on that one. These mainstream media outlet which were once the preferred and go to media for most Americans have lost a lot of luster and fans. Their corporate lips to the backside style of news is losing favor with the American public. Come back when you separate the News from entertainment.

[ebanks84]

11:07 AM on 12/23/2010

Everything he said was a load of BS and I could smell it all the way in NC. It's amazing how easy it is to see dishonest people tell such humongous lies. His total body language revealed his insecurity and lying nature. This man is a total FAKE! I pity ABC and hope they don't allow this man to bring them to their knees.

[AudiGuy]

09:31 AM on 12/23/2010

Maybe this is the new Peter Principle - You get to come back to the job you could not do?

[zelana]

09:02 AM on 12/23/2010

I stopped watching ABC after the supremely awful prsidential debate led by George Stephenopolous (sp?) Remember-when he asked Obama if he loved his country more than Rev. Wright or something to that effect?? I've evidently blocked the exact question from my memory. Complete cheese- no real journalism.

[dowl]

04:53 AM on 12/23/2010

Will the quitter ex-gov get more face time on ABC because of this new president? If so, ugh...

Has Rupert Murdoch and the Saudi prince acquired ABC?

[Dunkleberger Karl]

10:57 AM on 12/23/2010

Apearently so!

[ebanks84]

11:09 AM on 12/23/2010

Seems like it might be possible.

[BushBites]

02:39 AM on 12/23/2010

Kind of childish.

Though, I must admit, that guy does sound like he's slinging it.

[maxfax]

09:47 PM on 12/22/2010

Sounds like he fits right in with the other network presidents.

[Barton449]

07:33 PM on 12/22/2010

Such negativity from the staffers. So many accusations that while
they may be true, don't ring well.

No company I ever have been with hires back a guy who was
or was about to be fired.

His mother does have ovarian cancer.

He was eleven months into the job when GMA hit its peak.
True they fell from the top while he was there too.

All that being said I had to go wash my hands and face after listening to his speech.

[ConsensusReality]

07:24 PM on 12/22/2010

Journalism is dead in the United States.

[maxfax]

09:48 PM on 12/22/2010

I felt a faint pulse.

[Barton449]

06:55 PM on 12/22/2010

The ABC news libs are worried they are going to have to work for a living
instead of just trading gossip at cocktail parties then reporting it, as news.

[Lancelot Mallia]

07:18 PM on 12/22/2010

God you are a cloying twit. ABC is RW as they come. Go snort some tea.

[Barton449]

07:50 PM on 12/22/2010

Cloying means disgustingly sweet. There was nothing sweet in my post.

Look up words before you use them, and don't lift the lib word of the day
from other articles, i.e., ABC attack on Sherwood.

[Dunkleberger Karl]

10:58 AM on 12/23/2010

Nope your wrong ,
"Nope you dont get it
 
 You dont Get It "!
So sad You dont get it!

[Barton449]

08:03 PM on 12/23/2010

I hope you convinced yourself.
You convinced no one else.

[hoagie76]

05:29 PM on 12/22/2010

Ben's motto: I'm gonna run this motha into the ground!

[Yikes11]

05:02 PM on 12/22/2010

*Watching ABC is like Watching Fixed Noise.

[Dunkleberger Karl]

06:22 PM on 12/22/2010

The "news" is becoming like MTV in the 1990's
No music on MTV ,no news on ABC!
preferance for a story about a woman who
stared in one movie?Over the 1st responder
Bill, outragious! Insane Oh wait its DISNEY!

[texlib2112]

04:58 PM on 12/22/2010

ABC News has not been the same since Peter Jennings left this earth he was way too young.

I might be showing my age but I still miss Frank Reynolds he was a great news anchor. I still remember him showing his emotion when his friend Jim Brady was shot along with President Reagan back in 1981 when I was in 8th Grade.