A soon-to-be CBS News chief correspondent has set social media ablaze not with a breaking news scoop, but with a self-filmed, shirtless video from a mountain trail run.
Social Media Erupts Over 'Thirst Trap' Video
Matt Gutman, 48, the former ABC news correspondent handpicked by new CBS Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss, posted the video on Thursday. It showed him running on the Lykken trail in the mountains of Southern California, with Palm Springs visible in the background.
The post was immediately flooded with comments focusing overwhelmingly on the journalist's physique. The comment section was filled with remarks like 'This stud is so freaking hot' accompanied by flame emojis, and declarations such as 'One of THE most sexiest reporters ever!!!'. Many followers openly referred to the post as a 'thirst trap', with hashtags like '#TheHotnessOfMatt' gaining traction.
So pronounced was the reaction that a glaring typo in one of Gutman's on-screen captions – 'rumountain' instead of 'run mountain' – appeared to go largely unnoticed by the captivated audience.
A New Chapter at CBS After ABC Departure
Gutman is poised to begin his new role as CBS's chief correspondent on Monday. His appointment marks the first major hire by Bari Weiss, the opinion journalist and noted critic of legacy media, since she took the reins in October.
According to a well-placed source, executives at ABC let the longtime correspondent go 'without a fight' last month. When Weiss's offer was made, ABC did not issue a counter-offer.
In the caption accompanying his viral video, Gutman alluded to personal and professional changes in 2026, writing, 'I struggle with intrusive thoughts... I find running to be one of the most effective forms of therapy.' He described how the demanding trail forces total focus, granting 'a sliver of zen'.
A Career of Highs and Controversial Lows
Gutman's journalistic career has seen significant moments of controversy. In 2020, he incorrectly reported that all four of Kobe Bryant's children had died in the Calabasas helicopter crash, when in fact only his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, had perished. This led to a one-month suspension from ABC and an on-air apology.
More recently, in September, he made headlines for describing texts from Charlie Kirk's suspected assassin as 'very touching', which also necessitated an apology.
His move to CBS, orchestrated by Weiss, signals a bold new direction for the network's news division, and if his social media debut is any indication, Gutman's tenure will be anything but understated.
