California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta canceled a scheduled meeting with Paramount on Monday, citing what he described as the company’s lack of good faith in settlement discussions over a proposed $111 billion acquisition by Warner Bros. Discovery.
The cancellation followed allegations that Paramount leaked and misrepresented details from a prior meeting held last Friday, according to Bonta. In a statement, he accused the company of undermining the process by distorting the content of those discussions.
Bonta’s office had planned the meeting as a preliminary step to explore potential terms for resolving a lawsuit filed by California and 11 other states to block the merger. The lawsuit argues that the deal would reduce competition in the media and entertainment sector. No formal agreement was expected from the meeting, and its resumption remains contingent on Paramount’s willingness to engage transparently.
Paramount had previously threatened to withdraw operations from California, while Governor Gavin Newsom has indicated a preference for resolving the legal dispute outside of court. The company has not yet responded publicly to the cancellation or Bonta’s allegations.
California is among 12 states challenging the merger, which would combine Warner Bros. Discovery’s assets with Paramount Global’s in a transaction valued at $111 billion.
