BET appears to be undergoing some damage control measures, this after CEO Debra Lee announced the stepping down of executives Stephen Hill and Zola Mashariki. However, Mashariki is said to still be under contract for the network and was shocked to learn she was part of the moves made on the executive level.
Page Six reports:
“Debra wanted it to be perceived that the transition was a part of Viacom’s restructure, so she included Mashariki in the exit story in an effort to protect Stephen, who was ousted. [Viacom] wanted him out,” a source said.
Hill, president of programming, was employed at BET for 18 years. Mashariki took medical leave earlier this year and was baffled to read she was stepping down from her role as EVP head of original programming. “She was receiving calls and she had no idea what people were talking about because she never accepted any kind of deal nor was she told to leave,” the source said.
A network insider, however, insisted Mashariki was fired before taking medical leave. “She was terminated as a result of her own performance prior to taking medical leave. They then allowed her to keep her contract, so she was able to keep her salary and benefits after being diagnosed. She is definitely terminated,” the insider said.
Adding a wrinkle to the story is Mashariki making a separate announcement to her staff that she fully intends to return to her post next month. Lee has yet to retract the statement with sources telling Page Six she was too “embarrassed” to do so.
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Photo: WENN.com
