# The #metoo movement and Les Moonves, the head of CBS. Should he be fired? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 4, 2018, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metoo-movement-and-les-moonves-the-head-of-cbs-should-he-be-fired/819091 "2018-08-04T15:10:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2018, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metoo-movement-and-les-moonves-the-head-of-cbs-should-he-be-fired/819091/21 "2018-09-13T03:57:40Z")
If the accusations against him are true, he should not only be fired (without a golden parachute), he should be arrested. Those women say they were RAPED. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2018, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metoo-movement-and-les-moonves-the-head-of-cbs-should-he-be-fired/819091/22 "2018-09-13T14:39:36Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > url=“['60 Minutes': Target of threatening text from fired producer speaks](https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2018/09/12/cbs-news-fires-60-minutes-boss-jeff-fager-days-after-moonves-exit/1280981002/)”]_60 Minutes_ executive producer Jeff Fager was also fired today. There’s been talk for years about _60 Minutes_ being a sinkhole of harassment. The official announcement didn’t make clear what Fager did, however. Seems that Fager was fired for [good ol’ fashioned veiled threats](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fired-60-minutes-boss-jeff-fager-warned-cbs-news-reporter-there-are-people-whove-lost-their-jobs-trying-to-harm-me/) against a CBS reporter who was looking into the original allegations against him. I’m old enough to remember when there were reports that the first 60 Minutes producer - Don Hewitt, one of the true founders of television - regularly bullied one of the early woman correspondents (can’t recall if it was Leslie Stahl or Diane Sawyer.) I don’t know whether it ever reached the level of grabbing or propositioning, but it was definitely more than Mike Wallace had to put up with. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2018, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metoo-movement-and-les-moonves-the-head-of-cbs-should-he-be-fired/819091/23 "2018-09-13T15:47:57Z")
Colbert could not possibly have been uninformed about Moonves. It’s been widely reported for quite some time that Moonves required Letterman’s replacement be a man. No women allowed. He owes his job to the fact that he has a penis. Without one, he wouldn’t be sitting behind that desk. He is in a _very_ different position from almost all other CBS employees. I can’t imagine under what circumstances where Colbert would not know about Moonves’ pro-male hiring policies if someone like me knows it. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2018, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metoo-movement-and-les-moonves-the-head-of-cbs-should-he-be-fired/819091/24 "2018-09-13T22:33:18Z")
Moonves deserves the worst possible punishment for a white man: forced retirement at age 68. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2018, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metoo-movement-and-les-moonves-the-head-of-cbs-should-he-be-fired/819091/25 "2018-09-13T22:48:44Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > Les Moonves is now out of CBS, after more harassment allegations. I might have written too soon. According to [Fox News](http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2018/09/10/disgraced-cbs-boss-les-moonves-staying-on-as-adviser-network-paying-his-metoo-money.amp.html) and the [Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6151643/Les-Moonves-stay-adviser-CBS-two-years-security-not-donate-20M.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490), citing a SEC filing, Les Moonves will stay on at CBS for another 1-2 years as a consultant. From the linked [SEC filing](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/813828/000119312518269601/d622048d8k.htm): > [@](#): > > Mr. Moonves has agreed to perform transition advisory services for the Company for one year following his resignation (or, if earlier, until the date the Board determines the Company is entitled to terminate his employment for cause) in order to provide for a smooth transition of his duties. In order to facilitate such transition services, the Company will provide Mr. Moonves with office services and security services for up to two years following his resignation. Evidently, CBS needs advice from a sexist sexual harasser to run the company. Strangely, he will supposedly advise them for 1 year but have office space there for 2 years. What will he be doing there in the second year? CBS will also be paying $20M to the #metoo campaign on Moonves’ behalf. They will also hold $120M in trust for his separation agreement, pending the outcome of the internal investigation. It looks like Moonves will just be pulling strings from another office in the company. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2018, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metoo-movement-and-les-moonves-the-head-of-cbs-should-he-be-fired/819091/26 "2018-09-13T23:02:36Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Colbert could not possibly have been uninformed about Moonves. > > It’s been widely reported for quite some time that Moonves required Letterman’s replacement be a man. No women allowed. > > He owes his job to the fact that he has a penis. Without one, he wouldn’t be sitting behind that desk. > > He is in a _very_ different position from almost all other CBS employees. > > I can’t imagine under what circumstances where Colbert would not know about Moonves’ pro-male hiring policies if someone like me knows it. This is goalpost shifting. Knowing he wanted to hire a man to replace Letterman is not the same thing as knowing about the accusations of sexual harassment and rape. The only argument for that is one based on the very dubious idea that his vehemence in denouncing it indicates complicity. It doesn’t matter if most people who are complicit give vehement denouncements. It matters whether most people who give vehement announcements are complicit. **Roo** ’s comment is the fallacy of affirming the consequent. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2018, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metoo-movement-and-les-moonves-the-head-of-cbs-should-he-be-fired/819091/27 "2018-09-13T23:15:27Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > **Roo** ’s comment is the fallacy of affirming the consequent. The lady (or man) doth protest too much, methinks. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2018, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metoo-movement-and-les-moonves-the-head-of-cbs-should-he-be-fired/819091/28 "2018-09-14T01:04:21Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > It looks like Moonves will just be pulling strings from another office in the company. This is pretty common for a CEO. They keep their name on a fancy office door. But that’s all. Nobody consults them on anything. It’s likely Moonves will soon get tired of the charade and never go in. Unless he uses it to [del]write[/del] dictate his [del]side of the story[/del] memoirs. The question about Colbert really should be: at the time would any other network CEO hire a woman, either for Letterman’s spot or one on their own network? The answer is obviously no. Colbert could change nothing about that reality. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2018, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metoo-movement-and-les-moonves-the-head-of-cbs-should-he-be-fired/819091/29 "2018-09-14T21:56:08Z")
[This](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KSMRBWJrfo)is a clip from _The View._ Julie Chen signed off on _Big Brother_ last night for the first time as Julie Chen Moonves. The hosts on _The View_ said that Julie Chen Moonves won’t be able to go back to _The Talk_ unless she talks about her husband. Whoopi asks if Julie is responsible for what her husband did because she is getting a lot of blame for staying with him. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2018, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metoo-movement-and-les-moonves-the-head-of-cbs-should-he-be-fired/819091/30 "2018-12-18T18:26:48Z")
[Les Moonves won’t get $120M exit package, CBS says](https://amp.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/17/les-moonves-wont-get-120m-exit-package-cbs-says/) CBS not only found sexual misconduct but also a cover-up. CBS will not pay out the $120M severance to Les Moones. > [@](#): > > Disgraced former CBS CEO Les Moonves will not collect on his $120 million severance package following an internal investigation into sexual misconduct allegations, the network announced Monday. > > “With regard to Mr. Moonves, we have determined that there are grounds to terminate for cause, including his willful and material misfeasance, violation of Company policies and breach of his employment contract, as well as his willful failure to cooperate fully with the Company’s investigation,” CBS said in a statement > > “Mr. Moonves will not receive any severance payment from the Company.” ---
**Author:** ![Rough\_Draft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@Rough\_Draft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rough_Draft)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2018, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metoo-movement-and-les-moonves-the-head-of-cbs-should-he-be-fired/819091/31 "2018-12-18T18:58:57Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > [Les Moonves won’t get $120M exit package, CBS says](https://amp.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/17/les-moonves-wont-get-120m-exit-package-cbs-says/) > > CBS not only found sexual misconduct but also a cover-up. CBS will not pay out the $120M severance to Les Moones. I wonder if this will be the final straw regarding Julie Chen’s association with CBS? Because even though she dropped out of her daytime talk show, as recently as last week there were promos featuring her for _Celebrity Big Brother_, which starts in January or February. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2018, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metoo-movement-and-les-moonves-the-head-of-cbs-should-he-be-fired/819091/32 "2018-12-18T20:10:27Z")
> [@Rough\_Draft](#): > > I wonder if this will be the final straw regarding Julie Chen’s association with CBS? Because even though she dropped out of her daytime talk show, as recently as last week there were promos featuring her for _Celebrity Big Brother_, which starts in January or February. I’m wondering that too. I looked her up yesterday after I saw the headline. There wasn’t much new on her. but there was an article from when Moonves was originally let go. In that article, some were talking about the resentment about her because she got her jobs from her husband. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2018, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metoo-movement-and-les-moonves-the-head-of-cbs-should-he-be-fired/819091/33 "2018-12-18T21:38:17Z")
The story is that this went on for years. CBS shouldn’t benefit. They didn’t do enough. The $120M should still be paid out. . .to the victims. mc ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2018, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metoo-movement-and-les-moonves-the-head-of-cbs-should-he-be-fired/819091/34 "2018-12-22T07:03:17Z")
[CBS is a cesspool of sexual violence and the network has repeatedly failed to keep its employees safe](https://www.mediamatters.org/research/2018/12/21/cbs-cesspool-sexual-violence-and-network-has-repeatedly-failed-keep-its-employees-safe/222373) This article has the timeline on allegations and actions of Les Moonves, Charlie Rose, Jeff Fagor and a bunch of other accusations within CBS. I’m guessing that there will be a lot more allegations against people working at CBS now that Les Moonves is gone. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metoo-movement-and-les-moonves-the-head-of-cbs-should-he-be-fired/819091.md?page=1)