Warner Bros. Discovery is laying off Karen Horne, a diversity, equity and inclusion executive, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.Horne’s departure is not a result of cost-cutting measures, according to a memo sent by Warner Bros. Discovery’s chief global diversity, equity and inclusion officer Asif Sadiq, but is rather due to reorganization of the division, which is meant to focus more on “employee-related initiatives.” The diversity, equity and inclusion executive team will search for a new group vp to oversee North America and employee diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and a new group vp internationally, resulting in an expansion of the team.“Importantly, these changes do not alter our commitment to or our plans for pipeline programs and content-driven initiatives — these are fundamental pillars of our diversity, equity and inclusion strategy and will continue to be areas of investment and focus,” Sadiq said in the memo.However, the layoff comes amid a trend of departures from diversity, equity and inclusion positions in the industry. Earlier this week, Netflix disclosed that Vernā Myers, who worked on the company’s inclusion and diversity initiatives for the past five years, would be departing the company in September. She will be succeeded by her vp, Wade Davis.Last week, Disney confirmed that Latondra Newton, the company’s chief diversity officer, would be leaving after a six-year run. The entertainment giant is searching for a new chief to fill her position.Horne started at WarnerMedia in 2020 and has helped foster pipeline programs that give underrepresented communities access to the industry. Before WarnerMedia, Horne worked at NBC Entertainment and Universal Television Studios, where she was responsible for diversity initiatives, including starting the Late-Night Writers Workshop, which helped foster the talents of developing writers, including giving more women and men of color industry exposure.The L.A. Times first reported the news of Horne’s departure.
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