Christiane Amanpour to exit CNN at end of June 2027

CNN International anchor Christiane Amanpour will leave the network at the end of June 2027 after more than 43 years, according to a memo from CNN CEO Mark Thompson. Thompson told staffers that Amanpour decided the time was right to begin a new chapter and that he had discussed the move with her for several months.

In the memo, Thompson stated that Amanpour will scale back her show, “Amanpour,” to once a week in early 2027. The program is scheduled to conclude in May, with her departure from CNN following in late June. In an on-air address, Amanpour thanked viewers and acknowledged the “pressures” facing her and her colleagues. She stated that she remains fiercely independent and expressed hope that CNN maintains its history of independent journalism. Her written statement included the directive to “always be truthful, not neutral.”

The announcement surprised many employees at the network. One staffer described Amanpour as CNN’s “reigning titan,” while another called her the “heart and soul of this company.” That employee noted that while Amanpour is synonymous with the brand, her stature in journalism extends beyond it, allowing her to chart her own course. At 68, Amanpour is widely revered by colleagues, though her editorial stance has drawn criticism from some quarters.

Amanpour has previously articulated a specific view on objectivity, rejecting what she calls “both-siderism.” In a 2023 address to Columbia Journalism School graduates, she argued that drawing false moral or factual equivalence does not get to the truth. She contended that objectivity involves weighing all sides and evidence without rushing to equate them when no equivalence exists, citing examples from climate debate and political arenas.

Her reporting record includes controversial statements regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. In October 2023, Amanpour suggested that “the rest of the world” agreed with Jordanian Queen Rania Al Abdullah’s complaint about Western support for Israel. She also reported on third-party negotiators implementing a “hostage release on both sides,” implying Israel held civilian hostages alongside Hamas. Earlier this year, she apologized after describing the murder of an Israeli rabbi’s family as a “shootout.” In November 2020, she walked back comments comparing the Trump presidency to Kristallnacht after facing condemnation from the Israeli government and the Anti-Defamation League.

Amanpour’s exit marks the first major journalist departure under CNN’s new corporate ownership structure. Skydance CEO David Ellison recently completed his $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, bringing CNN and CBS under Skydance’s umbrella. While no direct link was established between Ellison’s takeover and Amanpour’s decision, she has publicly expressed concern about his management style. In May, Amanpour cited “hemorrhaging” viewers and money at CBS News as reasons for her worry about Ellison’s influence on CNN, referencing his installation of Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief at CBS.