CBS is firing Les Moonves without severance after sexual misconduct allegations

(Image credit: Michael Loccisano / Getty Images)

CBS has decided its ousted CEO Les Moonves won't receive a severance payment.

A series of sexual misconduct allegations against Moonves were reported by The New Yorker in July. Moonves was removed as chairman and CEO of the network in early September, and CBS announced Monday he wouldn't receive a $120 million severance payment due to his "breach of employment contract" and resistance to the company's investigation, among other things.

Lawyers hired by CBS found Moonves to be "evasive" and "untruthful at times" in the investigation, though Moonves' attorney said the former executive "cooperated extensively and fully with investigators."

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

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.

The New Yorker's original reporting detailed six allegations against Moonves, and several more were reported in September. Moonves continually denied the allegations and said he only knew about three of the encounters, but said they were consensual.

Explore More

Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.