60 Minutes producer Jeff Fager leaves CBS following new sexual misconduct allegation


Another major figure at CBS is leaving the network amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
Just three days after CEO Les Moonves stepped down in disgrace, 60 Minutes producer Jeff Fager is now leaving as well, Deadline reports. On Sunday, Fager was accused by a woman of groping her at a company party — the seventh such allegation against him. But CBS News chief David Rhodes said in a statement Wednesday that Fager's departure "is not directly related to the allegations surfaced in press reports." Instead, Rhodes said, Fager "violated company policy."
While CBS didn't specify which company policy Fager violated, Fager himself told CNN on Wednesday that he "sent a text message to one of our own CBS reporters demanding that she be fair in covering the story." Fager added that CBS did not approve of the "harsh" language he used.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In Ronan Farrow's bombshell CBS exposé published by The New Yorker in July, 19 current or former CBS workers accused Fager of allowing sexual harassment to persist at the network. Additionally, six sources told Farrow that Fager inappropriately touched employees or made sexual advances towards them while intoxicated at company parties. On Sunday, Farrow published a follow-up article with six new allegations against Moonves and one new one against Fager, which led to the departure of both men this week.
Bill Owens will now take over for the 36-year CBS veteran while the network searches for a permanent replacement. Read more at Deadline.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
What's at stake in the Mahmoud Khalil deportation fight?
Talking Points Vague accusations and First Amendment concerns
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Why is a new Air Force One taking so long to build?
The Explainer Trump may look for alternatives for his new plane
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
New and notable podcasts for March
Feature The MeidasTouch Podcast and The Magnificent Others With Billy Corgan
By The Week US Published
-
Crafting emporium Joann is going out of business
Speed Read The 82-year-old fabric and crafts store will be closing all 800 of its stores
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's China tariffs start after Canada, Mexico pauses
Speed Read The president paused his tariffs on America's closest neighbors after speaking to their leaders, but his import tax on Chinese goods has taken effect
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Chinese AI chatbot's rise slams US tech stocks
Speed Read The sudden popularity of a new AI chatbot from Chinese startup DeepSeek has sent U.S. tech stocks tumbling
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US port strike averted with tentative labor deal
Speed Read The strike could have shut down major ports from Texas to Maine
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden expected to block Japanese bid for US Steel
Speed Read The president is blocking the $14 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel, citing national security concerns
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judges block $25B Kroger-Albertsons merger
Speed Read The proposed merger between the supermarket giants was stalled when judges overseeing two separate cases blocked the deal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Rupert Murdoch loses 'Succession' court battle
Speed Read Murdoch wanted to give full control of his empire to son Lachlan, ensuring Fox News' right-wing editorial slant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Bitcoin surges above $100k in post-election rally
Speed Read Investors are betting that the incoming Trump administration will embrace crypto
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published