Skip to main content

Stephen Colbert on Les Moonves: ‘I Do Believe in Accountability’

Stephen Colbert did not waste any time addressing the sexual misconduct allegations against his boss, CBS CEO Les Moonves, on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on Monday, July 30.

Hollywood’s Sexual Misconduct Scandals

During his opening monologue, the TV host, 54, said he heard over the weekend that The New Yorker published a report about Moonves. He jokingly questioned the validity of the piece, until he realized that Ronan Farrow, who previously wrote exposés on Harvey Weinstein’s alleged sexual abuse, penned it.

“That’s not good,” he said after spitting out his drink. “Ronan isn’t exactly known for his puff pieces about glamping.”

Colbert more seriously addressed the scandal from behind his desk after his show’s first commercial break. “We’re coming up on one year of general awareness of the #MeToo movement,” he began. “I think that milestone is worth celebrating. … The revelations and accusations of the past year — just in the entertainment industry alone — have been shocking to me. To many of the women I know, it has brought a welcome sense of relief that something is finally happening.”

Stars Who Were Fired From Jobs

The comedian said he is unsure of what is going to happen next at the network in the wake of the claims against Moonves, 68.

“In a situation like this, I’d normally call Les,” he said. “But over the past year, there has been a lot of discussion about whether the disappearing of the accused from public life is the right thing to do. And I get that there should be levels of response, but I understand why that disappearing happens. … I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I do believe in accountability — and not just for politicians you disagree with.”

Speaking about his personal relationship with the media executive, Colbert concluded, “Everybody believes in accountability until it’s their guy. And make no mistake, Les Moonves is my guy. He hired me to sit in this chair. He stood behind this show while we were struggling to find our voice. … And I like working for him, but accountability is meaningless unless it’s for everybody, whether it’s the leader of a network or the leader of the free world.”

Best Dressed TV Show Hosts

Moonves admitted in a statement to The New Yorker on Friday, July 27, that he “may have made some women uncomfortable by making advances” over the years, but “those were mistakes, and I regret them immensely.” However, he insisted that he “never misused my power to harm or hinder anyone’s career.”

His wife, The Talk and Big Brother host Julie Chen, came to his defense with a statement of her own. “I have known my husband, Leslie Moonves, since the mid-90s, and I have been married to him for almost 14 years,” she tweeted on Friday afternoon. “Leslie is a good man and loving father, devoted husband and inspiring corporate leader. He has always been a kind, decent and moral human being. I fully support my husband and stand behind him and his statement.”

CBS’ board of directors announced earlier on Monday that its CEO will keep his role for the time being as an outside counsel conducts an independent investigation.



from Celebrity News – Us Weekly https://ift.tt/2OAj1Yu

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Musician Sophie Dead at Age 34 After 'Sudden Accident'

SOPHIE, a Scottish musician, DJ and record producer, has died at age 34. Stars We’ve Lost in 2021 Read article The multihyphenate’s team confirmed the news in a statement on Saturday, January 30, revealing that her death was unexpected. “It is with profound sadness that I have to inform you that musician and producer SOPHIE passed away this morning around 4 a.m. in Athens, where the artist had been living, following a sudden accident,” SOPHIE’s team said in a statement to The Independent . “At this time respect and privacy for the family is our priority. We would also ask for respect for her fanbase, and to treat the private nature of this news with sensitivity.” Celebrity LGBTQ Allies Read article The statement went on to tout SOPHIE’s many accolades in electronic pop music: “SOPHIE was a pioneer of new sound, one of the most influential artists in the last decade. Not only for ingenious production and creativity but also for the message and visibility that was achieved. An ico

Pink Helps Husband Carey Hart Recover After Spinal Surgery

Carey Hart and Pink. Rob Latour/Shutterstock Hello nurse! Carey Hart is recovering from spinal surgery with lots of help from his wife, Pink — and he couldn’t be more thankful. Pink and Carey Hart's Relationship Timeline Read article The motocross star , 46, underwent lower spine disc replacement surgery on Thursday, September 23, and let fans know that the procedure was a “success” hours after he got out of the operating room. “One down and one to go,” he wrote on Instagram , adding that he was “up and out of bed and walking, just a few hours post-surgery.” By the next morning, he was already heading home. While still in the hospital on Friday, September 24, he posted a video of himself in his post-op gown taking a stroll around the building. “Been up five times since this,” he bragged. “Can’t wait to come back stronger than ever, and kick ass on my dirt bike in 2022.” While he thanked the staff at DISC Sports & Spine Center in Newport Beach, California, he gave the

Baseball Legend Hank Aaron and More Stars We’ve Lost in 2021

It’s never easy to say goodbye. Scroll down to see Us Weekly ‘s tribute to the celebrities who died in 2021. Angie Jakusz The Survivor alum died in New Orleans following a long battle with cancer on January 8. She was 40. “Angie was an incredibly passionate person with an extraordinary lust for life,” her loved ones wrote in an obituary published via Nola.com. “Whether she was sewing, painting, drawing, doing nail art or makeup, costuming, reading, snorkeling, scuba diving, traveling or just raising hell, she did it lovingly and with laser precision. She was a founding member of the New Orleans Noise Coalition and had been a contestant on season 10 of Survivor.” Monty Brinton/CBS Joanne Rogers The musician, the widow of Fred Rogers , died in Pittsburgh on January 14. She was 92. No cause of death was given at the time. "Fred Rogers Productions is deeply saddened by the passing of Joanne Rogers. The loving partner of Fred Rogers for more than 50 years, she continued their