No severance for CBS ex-boss after sex abuse claims

NEW YORK: Les Moonves (pic), 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.

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 US$20mil (RM83mil) 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 US$ 120mil (RM500mil) as part of a severance package that will now not materialise, 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 non-consensual 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. — AFP