You just might get it.
I've been wishing for the last two years that Gerstmann would get kicked right to the curb. He had a tendency to write reviews that were unprofessional not only because of what seemed to be a personal bias (some seemed like he wished he wasn't "stuck" reviewing the game, so he'd give it a lower score out of pure spite - Scarface is a great example - especially the Wii version), but there are reviews of his that also made me question whether or not he even played the title, such as Capcom Classics, Vol. 2
I so wanted to see him fired for these, and every other game he hit because he seemingly either didn't want to play it or decided to play part of it and then write the review.
You don't put down a game for artistic license (changing the ending of Scarface to create the sequel - IMO, that was bloody brilliant because it put you right in that scene), and you don't promote something you think looks cool on paper but is totally broken (CCV2; Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo's emulation is broken; controls are terrible and the audio emulation is ruined) - especially since the latter brings a reviewer's integrity into question because you start wondering if theyplay the games they review.
If this Kane & Lynch debacle is true - and we have little reason to believe otherwise - Gamespot has put themselves into a very, very bad position.
One, you can be sued - not only by Gerstmann (wrongful dismissal), but paying subscribers (false advertisement; you don't say you're the most unbiased and then prove otherwise for firing a reviewer that doesn't bend to your advertisers/investors).
Two, you have no credibility. None whatsoever. Your readers are dropping their subscriptions (because it's not worth taking you to court), your reviewers seemingly don't want to write and the forums are abuzz with how you can't be trusted. Your opponents are having successive orgasms, and your allies...well, other than the CNET network, I don't think you have any anymore.
If I were in your shoes, this is what I'd do:
1) Come clean. Man up. Spit it out. The truth really is vindicating. Keeping quiet only builds suspicion, and Eidos can't legally sue over the truth.
2) Refund every paid subscription for the year; You just publicly violated your number one policies (objectivity and integrity).
3) Issue a public apology to Gerstmann and offer him his job back - despite the fact that he'll more than likely tell you where to shove it, or worse.
Jeff, I dislike you as a professional reviewer; I have yet to agree with one of your reviews (that are based on a game that I've actually played) and as much as I wanted to see you turfed, it most certainly was not for this reason; I've never had to eat words on wishing someone lost their job; this is one of those few times.
I do wish you all the best in the future and I hope you can find another job in your field that will treat you much better than this; no one deserves to be sold out like you were.