Sharon Osbourne backs Les Moonves in support of The Talk colleague Julie Chen

Entertainment Weekly

Osbourne, former Wonder Woman star Lynda Carter, CBS head of daytime Angelica McDaniel and former CBS Sports publicist LeslieAnne Wade all publicly backed the CBS CEO on Twitter following The New Yorker's bombshell story accusing him of sexually harassing six women. "Interesting timing, seems like an attempt to discredit Leslie before a major court case," tweeted Osbourne this morning, referring to the battle between Moonves and Shari Redstone over the future of CBS. "I hope people don’t rush to judgement and let @CBS conduct their investigation. Sending my love and support to my friends @JulieChen and Leslie Moonves." Carter tweeted Saturday afternoon: "Les Moonves is a close friend. I’ve known him for 40 years. He is a kind, decent and honorable man. I believe him and I believe in him." Meanwhile, Angelica McDaniel, executive vice president of daytime programs and syndicated program development at CBS, also expressed support for Moonves, tweeting that her relationship with Moonves is one of "respect and suport, in an environment where talent and hard work rise to the top. Statements about a culture of repression and subjugation of women have never been brought to bear on myself or my department in my eight years as a top executive at CBS." Former CBS Sports publicist LeslieAnne Wade also backed Moonves: "I know Leslie Moonves well. I worked for him for nearly twenty years. No executive advocated for or activated more top level opportunity for women." On Friday night, CBS sales chief Jo Ann Ross also expressed support for Moonves, tweeting: "He has never been threatening or abusive. In fact, Leslie has been my 'go to' through any challenges." ALSO: Moonves' many positive experiences with female employees don't exonerate him.