US broadcasting and media company CBS Corp said it was investigating claims of personal misconduct by its chief executive Leslie Moonves made in a New Yorker magazine article that was published on Friday.
The allegations against Moonves surfaced as he is locked in a legal battle over control of CBS with the company’s largest shareholder, National Amusements Inc, owned by Shari Redstone and her father Sumner who also control media company Viacom.
The New Yorker report featured claims against Moonves from six women spanning different time periods over two decades, from 1985 to 2006. The allegations included sexual assault and unwanted advances.
Reuters could not independently verify the accusations against Moonves.
“I recognize that there were times decades ago when I may have made some women uncomfortable by making advances”, Moonves said in an emailed statement to Reuters.
“Those were mistakes, and I regret them immensely,” Moonves said. “But I always understood and respected - and abided by the principle - that ‘no’ means ‘no,’ and I have never misused my position to harm or hinder anyone’s career. This is a time when we all are appropriately focused on how we help improve our society, and we at CBS are committed to being part of the solution.”
One of the women in the story was identified as actress Illeana Douglas. Douglas’ publicist Danny Deraney confirmed her comments in the story.
“Real change will occur when victims of sexual assaults are not stigmatized as whistle blowers, or people with some kind of agenda for coming forward,” Douglas said in a statement.
“Speaking for myself, real change will occur when I can walk through the front doors of CBS and resume the creative and working relationship that was so tragically cut short in 1997,” she added.
According to the New Yorker, 30 current and former CBS employees described harassment, gender discrimination, or retaliation for refusing sexual advances at the company.
CBS said in a statement that it takes each report of misconduct very seriously but it does not believe “the picture of our Company created in The New Yorker represents a larger organization that does its best to treat its tens of thousands of employees with dignity and respect.”
Earlier on Friday, before the New Yorker article was published, CBS said in a statement that its board would promptly review the findings and take appropriate action.
Also Read
-
CBS announces four-part series of short ‘Star Trek’ episodes
CBS Corp’s next voyage into the “Star Trek” universe will come in the form of a four-part series of 10-to-15-minute episodes ... Television & Radio -
Redstone countersues CBS alleging power grab by Moonves
The Redstone family controlling CBS filed a countersuit Tuesday alleging an illegal power grab of the media company by the board and its chief ... Television & Radio -
CBS board challenges Redstone control in amended lawsuit
CBS filed a new complaint Wednesday seeking to wrest control of the media group from controlling shareholder Shari Redstone, accusing her of trying ... Television & Radio
