CNN chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour is leaving the network, according to media reporter Brian Stelter.
Stelter broke the news in a post on Monday, writing, “CNN legend Christiane @Amanpour, the network’s chief international anchor, is departing the network next June.”
The departure comes after Trump pal David Ellison took control of CNN earlier this month following the close of an $81 billion buyout of Warner Bros. Discovery. The deal placed CNN under the same ownership as CBS.
Amanpour has not been shy about her concerns. During a recent appearance in London, she discussed what she described as an “ideological realignment” at CBS News and voiced her “concern” about the future of CNN.
In a statement released Monday, the veteran anchor confirmed her exit.
“After many months of thought and a few sleepless nights, I have decided to separate from CNN, my partner of 43 fantastic years!” Amanpour said.
Amanpour laid out a timeline for her departure, saying she will end her daily shows on both CNN and PBS at the end of this year. She will continue to host a weekly program on CNN through May and will work on a smooth transition through June.
The anchor also used her statement to thank the colleagues she has worked alongside over the decades.
“I want to thank all the amazingly talented people I’ve worked with throughout this incredible journey,” she said, singling out her show teams and field crews.
Amanpour reflected on a career that began with her first major assignment covering the First Gulf War. She went on to cover the horrors of the Bosnian War, along with Rwanda, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Iran.
According to Amanpour, it was the teams and the camaraderie that mattered most throughout those years. She said they worked together to pursue the facts, the evidence and the humanity, so that CNN could broadcast the truth both about the world and to the world without fear or favor.
Amanpour is not stepping away from the spotlight entirely. She said she will continue her podcast, the Ex-Files, with Global, and is looking forward to new projects down the road.
She also made clear she will remain in CNN’s corner, saying she will always be rooting for the network and its history of independent journalism.
Amanpour closed her statement with a parting message: “Remember: always be truthful, not neutral.”
CNN Editor-in-Chief Mark Thompson also weighed in on the news, releasing a statement of his own.
“I’m very sorry to see her go, but I’ve come to accept that this is the right time for her, both personally and professionally,” Thompson said.
Amanpour’s announcement marks the end of a 43-year run at CNN, one of the longest tenures at the network, and comes just weeks into a new era under Ellison’s ownership.
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