NEW YORK, Dec 18, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Les Moonves, the onetime head of CBS,
was fired for cause and will not receive a severance package in the wake of
sexual misconduct allegations, the television network announced Monday.
Moonves, who transformed the corporation into the most watched television
network in the country, was one of the most respected executives in Hollywood
until he was first publicly accused.
Two articles published by The New Yorker — in July and in September —
detailed allegations against the 69-year-old television titan from 12
different women. He resigned in September.
At the time, CBS said Moonves and the network would donate $20 million to
supporting the #MeToo movement and equality for women in the workplace.
CBS said a company investigation found Moonves guilty of “willful and
material misfeasance,” and said he refused to cooperate with the probe.
He had been expected to receive up to $120 million as part of a severance
package that will now not materialize, as it was dependent on the results of
the investigation.
Moonves’s lawyer rejected CBS’s findings, calling them “without merit.”
“The press was informed of these baseless conclusions before Mr Moonves,
further damaging his name, reputation, career and legacy,” attorney Andrew
Levander said in a statement.
“Mr Moonves vehemently denies any nonconsensual sexual relations and
cooperated extensively and fully with investigators.”
While the investigation found that harassment and retaliation were “not
pervasive at the network,” it also uncovered previous incidents of “improper
and unprofessional conduct.”
“The company’s historical policies, practices and structures have not
reflected a high institutional priority on preventing harassment and
retaliation,” CBS said, citing the probe.
It said investigators found that “inadequate” resources had been allocated
to human resources, training and development, diversity and inclusion.
“Employees also cited past incidents in which HR and the company did not
hold high performers accountable for their conduct and protect employees from
retaliation,” CBS added.
But the network said it had already implemented corrective measures, naming
a new “chief people officer” responsible for human resources and retaining
outside expert advisors “to develop other initiatives for promoting a
workplace culture of dignity, transparency, respect and inclusion.”
CBS has also seen other harassment claims.
On Friday, it confirmed having paid $9.5 million to actress Eliza Dushku,
who was written off the script of the series “Bull” after complaining of
harassment by the lead actor.