This follows his resignation after allegations of harassment
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A major US broadcasting company is donating part of its former CEO’s exit package to #MeToo -related causes. The move was made after the top exec resigned following allegations of sexual harassment in September.
CBS Corporation will be giving away US$20million from Leslie Moonves’s severance while the board of directors concludes an investigation into the sexual harassment claims.
The board will also determine whether the former chairman and CEO will receive the remaining estimated US$100million exit pay. The decision will be based on the probe’s results on Moonves’ past behaviour as well as the company’s overall workplace culture.
According to the New York Times, one claim found in the investigation was that Moonves tried to prevent an actress from coming forward with a complaint by getting her a role on a show.
Moonves also faced new allegations of sexual harassment this week, including from actress Cybill Shepherd who claimed her CBS sitcom was cancelled after she rejected the CEO’s advances.
The former chairman had previously expressed regret over his behaviour but denied retaliating against those who rejected his advances. He also denied having non-consensual relations, reported the Wall Street Journal.
CBS said some of the 18 organisations receiving a donation include Time’s Up Entertainment and the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund, the National Women’s Law Center, Press Forward, New York Women’s Foundation and Girls for Gender Equity.
The investigation into Moonves’s behaviour was expected to be concluded and reviewed by the board as early as this week. CBS has not confirmed whether it will publicly release any of the findings.
