• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

He worked 100-hour weeks to save a nearly bankrupt boat company. At 83, he’s just turned down $400 million for it—and gave it all to charity instead

2

Costco's $14 million email settlement: Who qualifies for an up-to $500 payment and how to claim before the Aug. 24 deadline

3

Jamie Dimon says his stockbroker father taught him to invest with a 'brutally hard' childhood game

1

He worked 100-hour weeks to save a nearly bankrupt boat company. At 83, he’s just turned down $400 million for it—and gave it all to charity instead

2

Costco's $14 million email settlement: Who qualifies for an up-to $500 payment and how to claim before the Aug. 24 deadline

3

Jamie Dimon says his stockbroker father taught him to invest with a 'brutally hard' childhood game
Paramount Global

4 Things to Know About Sexual Assault Allegations Against CBS’ Leslie Moonves

By
Glenn Fleishman
Glenn Fleishman
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Glenn Fleishman
Glenn Fleishman
Down Arrow Button Icon
July 27, 2018, 7:15 PM ET
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

A New Yorker report on allegations of sexual assault, harassment, and retaliation against CBS CEO Leslie “Les” Moonves was so anticipated that it sent the media company’s stock down almost 10% hours before the story’s publication on Friday afternoon. CBS also said it would investigate the allegations before the story appeared.

And then it did. The New Yorker‘s Ronan Farrow provided accounts from several women, both identified by name and presented anonymously or with partial identification, who accused Moonves of unwanted physical contact that ranged from forcibly holding them down, putting a hand up a skirt, or thrusting his tongue down their throat.

In a statement to the New Yorker, Moonves said acknowledged making advances in some cases “decades ago,” but said he understood “‘no’ means ‘no'” and never retaliated. CBS said the company has never received any claims of misconduct against the CEO during his 24 years at the company, and has paid out no settlements. Still, earlier Friday, CBS released a statement that its independent directors were committed to investigating claims of personal misconduct. Multiple past and present CBS executives are mentioned in the article.

Five key takeaways from the lengthy New Yorker story:

1.) Moonves is alleged to have arranged solo meetings at which he made advances or assaults, a pattern similar to that reported of Hollywood mega-producer Harvey Weinstein. Writer and actress Illeana Douglas, writer Janet Jones, producer Christine Peters, and an actress who appeared on a CBS show as a police officer and declined to be identified further said Moonves made unwanted contact or advances during such meetings. Dinah Kirgo, a writer, said she turned down a private dinner with Moonves. (CBS told Farrow that Moonves acknowledged trying to kiss Douglas, but denied any more aggressive behavior, and that he didn’t touch or make inappropriate contact with the police-officer actress or Peters. CBS said he didn’t recall interacting with Jones or Kirgo.)

2.) Following Moonves’ alleged assault, Douglas had her role cut from a show in production and an exclusive appearance deal canceled with 80% of the payment not made. Douglas’s attorney negotiated for part of the payment and a contact to appear in a new miniseries. CBS denied the payment or new contract were settlements. Other women in the New Yorker article described retaliation after their alleged negative interactions with Moonves, including the loss of career opportunities and the spread of rumors that they were difficult to deal with.

3.) Farrow described an environment at CBS that allowed a culture of sexual misconduct and harassment to fester, citing numerous incidents, including those recited in a lawsuit by a longtime CBS employee, Erin Gee, who said she was demoted after a boss told her “to have sex with a coworker with whom she was having difficulties in order to ‘break the ice.'” (Her attorney declined to comment and CBS said the matter was settled.)

4.) A Washington Post article early this year providing extensive reporting on the allegations about Charlie Rose’s purported sexual misconduct omitted mention of Jeff Faber, the executive producer of 60 Minutes, about whom Farrow details a number of anecdotes about his unwanted physical contact with employees and how he allegedly protected and promoted other men accused of a variety of behavior. Fager allegedly pressured the Post. The Post declined to comment on the specifics, stating: “Nothing that met our longstanding standards for publication was left out.” (Post contributing writer Irin Carmon, one of the two authors of the story, said while accepting an award at an event in June and at which Fager was in the audience: “The system is still powerful men getting stories killed that I believe will someday see the light of day.” She added on Twitter: “There will be more to say, and I will when I can.”)

About the Author
By Glenn Fleishman
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

Latest in

Jonathan Winer wears a white button down and blue sweater and smiles.
AITerm Sheet
Forget robots on assembly lines. Foundational Industries wants AI to run the entire factory
By Lily Mae LazarusJuly 30, 2026
2 hours ago
lose-up of five people's hands holding smartphones i
PoliticsSocial Media
Europe’s social media bans force businesses to rethink how they reach the youngest generation 
By Sam BirchallJuly 30, 2026
2 hours ago
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in Sun Valley, Idaho, on July 9, 2026. (Photo: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
NewslettersFortune Tech
The limits to Meta’s AI ambitions
By Andrew NuscaJuly 30, 2026
3 hours ago
Dow COO Karen Carter wearing a white lab coat and sitting while smiling
EnergyDow
New Dow CEO drives ‘transformation’ back to profitability amid oil market upheaval
By Jordan BlumJuly 30, 2026
4 hours ago
trump
EconomyCurrency
Trump’s dollar déjà vu: what an uncanny chart about the greenback shows about American exceptionalism
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 30, 2026
4 hours ago
Current ARM mortgage rates report for July 30, 2026
Personal FinanceReal Estate
Current ARM mortgage rates report for July 30, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJuly 30, 2026
4 hours ago

Most Popular

He worked 100-hour weeks to save a nearly bankrupt boat company. At 83, he’s just turned down $400 million for it—and gave it all to charity instead
Success
He worked 100-hour weeks to save a nearly bankrupt boat company. At 83, he’s just turned down $400 million for it—and gave it all to charity instead
By Preston ForeJuly 29, 2026
19 hours ago
Costco's $14 million email settlement: Who qualifies for an up-to $500 payment and how to claim before the Aug. 24 deadline
Retail
Costco's $14 million email settlement: Who qualifies for an up-to $500 payment and how to claim before the Aug. 24 deadline
By Sydney LakeJuly 29, 2026
20 hours ago
Jamie Dimon says his stockbroker father taught him to invest with a 'brutally hard' childhood game
C-Suite
Jamie Dimon says his stockbroker father taught him to invest with a 'brutally hard' childhood game
By Sarah GlodekJuly 29, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of oil as of July 29, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of July 29, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 29, 2026
1 day ago
eBay will pay nearly $50 million after employees reportedly sent a Massachusetts couple a bloody pig mask, cockroaches and death threats
Law
eBay will pay nearly $50 million after employees reportedly sent a Massachusetts couple a bloody pig mask, cockroaches and death threats
By The Associated Press and Leah WillinghamJuly 28, 2026
2 days ago
Millionaires are leaving the U.K. in droves thanks to tax hikes—but the CEO of $1 billion tax platform says it’s their ‘social responsibility’ to stay
Success
Millionaires are leaving the U.K. in droves thanks to tax hikes—but the CEO of $1 billion tax platform says it’s their ‘social responsibility’ to stay
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJuly 29, 2026
20 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.