CBS chief Les Moonves is facing new allegations of sexual misconduct after a bombshell report earlier this week.
Some of the network’s stars, including “The Talk” co-host Sharon Osbourne, are urging the public to reserve judgment.
In a tweet following the New Yorker report, Osbourne tweeted that the timing of these allegations struck her as “interesting.”
Interesting timing, seems like an attempt to discredit Leslie before a major court case. I hope people don’t rush to judgement and let @CBS conduct their investigation. Sending my love and support to my friends @JulieChen and Leslie Moonves
— Sharon Osbourne (@MrsSOsbourne) July 28, 2018
“Interesting timing, seems like an attempt to discredit Leslie before a major court case,” she tweeted. “I hope people don’t rush to judgement and let @CBS conduct their investigation. Sending my love and support to my friends @JulieChen and Leslie Moonves.”
As the New York Post’s Page Six reported, Osbourne was apparently referring to a pending court case between the CBS board and its controlling shareholder, who wants to to merge the network with Viacom.
In addition to sending “love and support” to her boss, she included Moonves’ wife and another co-host on the morning talk show, Julie Chen.
Issuing her own statement in response to the allegations, Chen ran to his defense.
“Leslie is a good man and a loving father, devoted husband and inspiring corporate leader,” she said. “He has always been a kind, decent and moral human being. I fully support my husband and stand behind him and his statement.”
Moonves denied the worst allegations from investigative journalist Ronan Farrow’s latest report, though he acknowledged he crossed the line with some women in the past.
“I recognize that there were times decades ago when I may have made some women uncomfortable by making advances,” he said. “Those were mistakes, and I regret them immensely. 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.”
A total of six women were cited in the New Yorker article.
[Featured image: Les Moonves, Associated Press]
