'This is really hard': Watch Norah O'Donnell react to the ouster of her boss Les Moonves

Norah O&#039;Donnell responds to Les Moonves&#039; ouster

(Image credit: Screenshot/Twitter/CBS News)

published 10 September 2018

CBS This Morning had a lot of news to cover Monday morning, including the hurricane threatening to wreak havoc on the Carolinas and an interview with Whitewater special counsel Kenneth Starr, "but we want to begin with this important news about this network and one of the most powerful executives in the entertainment industry," Norah O'Donnell said. Les Moonves, her boss, "was forced to resign last night," hours after "reports of seven new sexual misconduct and assault allegations against Moonves. Thirteen women now accuse him of harassment or abuse."

John Dickerson added that Moonves was reportedly offered a separation package of $80 million in stock, and Jericka Duncan explained that $20 million originally part of the exit package will go to groups supporting the #MeToo movement and "any severance payments to be made to Moonves will depend upon the results of an independent investigation and a board evaluation."

Moonves denied the allegations in a statement Sunday night. Duncan ran through the awful allegations. "This is really hard," O'Donnell said after the news was reported. Moonves had always treated her "fairly and with respect," she said, and it was "really hard to comment" on her boss being the latest, and arguably the most powerful executive brought down in the #MeToo reckoning, 10 months after she had to react on-air to the ouster of cohost Charlie Rose. There's no excuse for the alleged behavior, O'Donnell said. "Women cannot achieve equality in the workplace or society until there is a reckoning and a taking of responsibility." Watch below. Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.