An interesting to subplot to the drama at CBS and the firing/resignation of its president Les Moonves after more sexual misconduct allegations is how his wife, Julie Chen co-host of the CBS series
The Talk and host of
Big Brother would handle her on-air roles. After announcing that she'd be taking time off from her daily group talk show, she returned to the air tonight as the host of the long-running reality competition
Big Brother. As the episode wrapped up, Chen said "...from outside the
Big Brother House with Brent, I'm Julie Chen Moonves. Goodnight." [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIcMgVik2GM&w=560&h=315] It is believed to be the first time Chen has used her married name on the show she's hosted since 2000. When allegations of Moonves' misconduct first surfaced,
Chen released a statement saying, "I have known my husband, Leslie Moonves, since the late '90s, and I have been married to him for almost 14 years. Leslie is a good man and a 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." The most recent allegations revealed in
yet another blockbuster by Ronan Farrow include Moonves attempting to buy the silence of a woman accusing him of sexual misconduct by offering her a job at the network. The backlash to Chen's signoff was swift. Publicist Danny Deraney, whose
clients include Illeana Douglas (
one of Moonves' victims), Roseanna Arquette, and Laura Benanti said he would no longer book any of his clients on
The Talk.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js There hasn't been any reaction from CBS or
Big Brother producers to Chen's signoff. Her next live appearance on
Big Brother is Sunday night.
Julie Chen Supports Les Moonves on Big Brother Amid Sexual Assault Allegations [Andy Swift/TVLine][PHOTO:
David Shankbone/Wikimedia Commons] (CC BY 3.0)
