CBS boss Les Moonves resigns after new and explicit sexual harassment allegations
The powerful television executive’s departure came after The New Yorker reported that he forced women to perform oral sex on him, exposed himself, and used intimidation and physical violence
CBS Corp CEO Leslie Moonves resigned from the company, the company said on Sunday, amid fresh allegations of sexual assault and harassment.
The announcement came after six additional women come forward to accuse Moonves of harassment or assault in previous decades, The New Yorker reported. He and the media company’s board were already negotiating his exit.
The reported incidents occurred in the 1980s and early 2000s and include claims that the executive forced women to perform oral sex on him, exposed himself, and used intimidation and physical violence, according to The New Yorker story published on Sunday.
The author is Ronan Farrow, whose reporting previously helped topple movie producer Harvey Weinstein.
Moonves, in a statement to The New Yorker, acknowledged three of the encounters while maintaining that they were consensual.
“The appalling accusations in this article are untrue,” the executive said, before the announcement of his resignation, adding that he has “never used my position to hinder the advancement or careers of women.”