$20M VS. PERVS
After Moonves raps, CBS gives to anti-harass effort
CBS Corp. said it will donate $20 million to fight sexual harassment in the workplace following the departure of scandal-plagued CEO Les Moonves earlier this year.
The media company will divide the donation between 18 organizations that work to eradicate sexual harassment, including Time’s Up Entertainment and the Time’s Up Legal Fund.
The announcement comes three months after Moonves resigned following a wave of sexual misconduct allegations.
At the time of his exit, CBS promised to donate $20 million of Moonves’ potential severance package to groups that support #MeToo.
CBS hired a pair of law firms to carry out an investigation into the allegations against Moonves and determine how much of his $120 million severance package he should receive. Moonves has denied the accusations, which include claims of sexual assault and sexual harassment.
CBS’ announcement Friday comes one day after The New York Times reported the network reached a $9.5 million settlement with actress Eliza Dushku after she accused her former “Bull” co-star Michael Weatherly of sexual harassment, before being written off of the show days later.
Dushku claimed Weatherly made jokes about spanking her and her wanting to have a threesome with him and a co-star on set, in addition to referring to a windowless van in a scene as a “rape van” in what Weatherly described to the newspaper as a failed joke.
Dushku said she complained of Weatherly’s behavior to one of the show’s producers and writers, who suggested she bring her concerns directly to Weatherly. Weatherly then reportedly told the president of CBS Television Studios, David Stapf, that he wished to discuss the actress’ sense of humor, and she was written off of the show shortly thereafter.
“During the course of taping our show, I made some jokes mocking some lines in the script,” Weatherly said in a statement to The Times. “When Eliza told me that she wasn’t comfortable with my language and attempt at humor, I was mortified to have offended her and immediately apologized.”
CBS also addressed the allegations in a statement.
“Ms. Dushku’s claims are an example that, while we remain committed to a culture defined by a safe, inclusive and respectful workplace, our work is far from done.”