BuzzFeed replaces Deloitte as auditor amid going concern

BuzzFeed, Inc. reported that its Audit Committee dismissed Deloitte & Touche LLP as its independent registered public accounting firm on April 13, 2026 and approved the engagement of CBIZ CPAs P.C. for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026.

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Filing Sentiment

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Form Type

8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

BuzzFeed, Inc. reported that its Audit Committee dismissed Deloitte & Touche LLP as its independent registered public accounting firm on April 13, 2026 and approved the engagement of CBIZ CPAs P.C. for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026.

Deloitte’s audit reports for 2024 and 2025 were clean except for an explanatory paragraph raising substantial doubt about BuzzFeed’s ability to continue as a going concern. The company previously disclosed material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting. While the weakness related to IT general controls was remediated by the end of 2025, deficiencies in the financial statement close process remained.

The company states there were no disagreements with Deloitte on accounting principles, disclosure, or audit scope, and that its Audit Committee discussed the internal control issues with Deloitte. Deloitte provided a letter, filed as Exhibit 16.1, indicating its views on the company’s description of these matters.

Positive

None.

Negative

Deloitte’s prior reports included a going concern explanatory paragraph highlighting substantial doubt about BuzzFeed’s ability to continue as a going concern, and the company still had unresolved material weaknesses in its financial statement close process as of December 31, 2025.

Insights

Auditor change occurs against a backdrop of going concern and lingering control issues.

BuzzFeed’s Audit Committee replaced Deloitte & Touche LLP with CBIZ CPAs P.C. for the 2026 audit. The filing emphasizes that Deloitte’s opinions for 2024 and 2025 were unqualified except for an explanatory paragraph about substantial doubt regarding the company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

The company also discloses that material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting were identified. While information technology general control weaknesses were remediated by the end of 2025, deficiencies in the financial close process—such as information flow, documentation quality, and review precision—remained unresolved at that date.

For investors, the combination of a going concern explanatory paragraph, outstanding internal control weaknesses, and an auditor transition can signal elevated financial reporting and business risk. Subsequent annual and quarterly reports will show whether the new firm confirms going concern language and whether the remaining control weaknesses are fully remediated.

8-K Event Classification

2 items: 4.01, 9.01

2 items

Item 4.01 Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant Governance

The company changed its independent auditing firm, which may involve disagreements on accounting matters.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits

Financial statements, pro forma financial information, or exhibit attachments filed with this report.

Key Figures

Dismissal date: April 13, 2026 New auditor effective period: Fiscal year ending December 31, 2026 Going concern reference years: 2024 and 2025 +2 more

5 metrics

Dismissal date April 13, 2026 Audit Committee dismissed Deloitte as independent registered public accounting firm

New auditor effective period Fiscal year ending December 31, 2026 CBIZ CPAs P.C. engaged as independent registered public accounting firm

Going concern reference years 2024 and 2025 Deloitte’s reports included a going concern explanatory paragraph for these fiscal years

Exhibit number for Deloitte letter Exhibit 16.1 Letter from Deloitte & Touche LLP dated April 16, 2026

Fiscal year of remediated IT weakness Year ended December 31, 2025 IT general control material weakness remediated by this date

Key Terms

going concern, material weaknesses, internal control over financial reporting, reportable events, +1 more

5 terms

going concern financial

"the reports included an explanatory paragraph relating to substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern"

Going concern is the accounting assumption that a company will keep operating and meeting its obligations for the foreseeable future. The phrase matters most when a company or its auditors disclose substantial doubt about it, a formal warning that the business may not have enough resources to continue without raising money, restructuring, or selling assets. That language in a filing or press release signals elevated financial risk.

material weaknesses financial

"the Company identified material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting"

Material weaknesses are significant flaws in a company’s systems for ensuring its financial reports are accurate and reliable. Like a broken lock on a safe, they increase the chance that financial statements contain big errors or omissions, which can mislead investors about performance and risk; discovering one often raises questions about management oversight, may lead to restated results, and can affect investor confidence and a company’s valuation.

internal control over financial reporting financial

"material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting related to (i) a lack of formalized information technology general controls"

Internal control over financial reporting is a company’s system of procedures and checks designed to make sure its financial statements are accurate and complete, like a set of guardrails and verification steps that catch mistakes or fraud before numbers are published. Investors care because strong controls make reported results more trustworthy, lower the risk of surprise restatements or regulatory problems, and give greater confidence when valuing the company or comparing it to peers.

reportable events regulatory

"there were no “reportable events” (within the meaning set forth in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K)"

Reportable events are significant incidents or changes a company is legally required to disclose to regulators and the public, such as major safety problems, legal actions, financial irregularities, or management changes. They matter to investors because these events can alter a company’s risk profile or future performance, much like a dashboard warning light signals a problem that could affect a car’s safety or reliability. Timely disclosure helps investors make informed decisions and maintain market fairness.

emerging growth company regulatory

"Emerging growth company x"

An emerging growth company is a recently public or smaller public firm that qualifies for temporary, lighter regulatory and disclosure rules to reduce the cost and effort of being public. For investors, it means the company may provide less historical financial detail and face fewer reporting requirements than larger firms, so it can grow more quickly but also carries higher uncertainty—like buying a promising early-stage product with fewer user reviews.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What auditor change did BuzzFeed (BZFD) announce in this 8-K?

BuzzFeed’s Audit Committee dismissed Deloitte & Touche LLP on April 13, 2026 and approved CBIZ CPAs P.C. as the new independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, replacing Deloitte for future audits.

Did Deloitte’s reports on BuzzFeed (BZFD) include a going concern paragraph?

Yes. Deloitte’s audit reports on BuzzFeed’s 2024 and 2025 consolidated financial statements were unqualified but included an explanatory paragraph expressing substantial doubt about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern, highlighting business and liquidity uncertainty for investors.

Were there disagreements between BuzzFeed (BZFD) and Deloitte before the dismissal?

The filing states there were no disagreements with Deloitte on accounting principles, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures during 2024, 2025, and through April 13, 2026 that would have required reference in Deloitte’s audit reports under Regulation S-K Item 304 definitions.

What internal control weaknesses does BuzzFeed (BZFD) disclose?

BuzzFeed reports material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting. IT general control issues were remediated by December 31, 2025, but weaknesses in the financial statement close process, including information flow, documentation quality, and review precision and timeliness, remained unremediated at that date.

Did BuzzFeed (BZFD) consult CBIZ CPAs before appointing them auditor?

The company says it did not consult CBIZ CPAs P.C. during 2024, 2025, or through April 13, 2026 on accounting principles, proposed transactions, audit opinions, disagreements, or reportable events as defined under Regulation S-K Item 304 before deciding to engage the firm.

What is Exhibit 16.1 in BuzzFeed’s (BZFD) 8-K filing?

Exhibit 16.1 is a letter from Deloitte & Touche LLP dated April 16, 2026. It responds to BuzzFeed’s description of the auditor change and related disclosures, stating whether Deloitte agrees with the company’s statements regarding its prior engagement and the circumstances of dismissal.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Accepted by SEC EDGAR 04/16/2026 - 05:20 PM

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): April 13, 2026

BuzzFeed, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware	001-39877	85-3022075
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

50 West 23rd Street

New York, New York 10010

(Address of registrant’s principal executive offices, and zip code)

(646) 397-2039

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:


¨			Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
¨			Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
¨			Pre-commencement communication pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
¨			Pre-commencement communication pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading

Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Class A Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share

BZFD

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Redeemable warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of approximately $46.00 per share

BZFDW

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Emerging growth company x

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Item 4.01 Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.

(a) Dismissal of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

On April 13, 2026, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Audit Committee”) of BuzzFeed, Inc. (the “Company”) dismissed Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

Deloitte’s audit reports on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles, except that the reports included an explanatory paragraph relating to substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

During the Company’s two most recent fiscal years, which ended on December 31, 2025 and 2024, and the subsequent interim period through April 13, 2026, there were no “disagreements” (within the meaning set forth in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K) between the Company and Deloitte on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to Deloitte’s satisfaction, would have caused Deloitte to make reference to the subject matter of disagreements in connection with their reports.

Except as noted in the following paragraph, there were no “reportable events” (within the meaning set forth in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K) during the Company’s two most recent fiscal years and the subsequent interim period through April 13, 2026.

As disclosed in Part II, Item 9A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, the Company identified material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting related to (i) a lack of formalized information technology general controls in the area of change management and logical security controls and (ii) a lack of formalized internal controls and segregation of duties surrounding the financial statement close process. As further disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, the Company remediated the material weakness related to information technology general controls; however, a portion of the material weakness related to the financial statement close process remained unremediated as of December 31, 2025. Specifically, deficiencies persisted regarding the flow of information and supporting documentation across departments, the accuracy and completeness of information used in controls, and the precision and timeliness of reviews of account reconciliations.

The Audit Committee has discussed the subject matter of these reportable events with Deloitte. The Company has authorized Deloitte to respond fully to the inquiries of the successor independent registered public accounting firm concerning the subject matter of the reportable events.

In accordance with Item 304(a)(3) of Regulation S-K, the Company provided Deloitte with a copy of this Current Report on Form 8-K and requested that Deloitte furnish it with a letter addressed to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether Deloitte agrees with the above statements of the Company herein and, if not, stating the respects in which it does not agree. Deloitte furnished the requested letter, and a copy is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

(b) Engagement of New Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

On April 13, 2026, the Audit Committee approved the engagement of CBIZ CPAs P.C. (“CBIZC”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026. During the Company’s two most recent fiscal years and the subsequent interim period through April 13, 2026, neither the Company, nor anyone on its behalf, consulted CBIZC regarding (i) the application of accounting principles to a specific transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements, and neither a written report nor oral advice was provided to the Company that CBIZC concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing, or financial reporting issue, (ii) any matter that was the subject of a disagreement within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K, or (iii) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions to Item 304 of Regulation S-K) or a reportable event of the type described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.


Exhibit Number						Description
16.1						Letter from Deloitte & Touche LLP dated April 16, 2026.
104						Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


Date:	4/16/2026
		BuzzFeed, Inc.

		By:	/s/ Jonah Peretti
			Name: Jonah Peretti
			Title: Chief Executive Officer

Source: View Original Filing on SEC EDGAR

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

5 documents

BuzzFeed replaces Deloitte as auditor amid going concern