CBS makes it official: Les Moonves is out following new sexual misconduct allegations

Variety

Moonves is officially out of his powerful job as the CEO and chairman of CBS, effective immediately. CBS chief operating officer Joe Ianniello will take over as interim CEO. As part of the shakeup, Moonves and CBS have both agreed to pay $20 million to organizations that support the #MeToo movement. In addition, six members of the 14-member CBS board of directors are departing, to be replaced by new board members. Moonves' exit comes hours after Ronan Farrow published a second bombshell New Yorker story in which six more women accused the CBS exec of sexual harassment and sexual assault. Moonves started at CBS in 1995 as entertainment president. He was head of CBS Television from 1998 to 2003, becoming chairman and CEO of CBS in 2003. From 2006 to 2017, Moonves earned more than $1 billion in salary and stock awards. UPDATE: Moonves says "untrue allegations" are behind his ouster: "Untrue allegations from decades ago are now being made against me that are not consistent with who I am.  Effective immediately I will no longer be Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CBS. I am deeply saddened to be leaving the company. I wish nothing but the best for the organization, the newly comprised board of directors and all of its employees.”