Home | WebMail | Register or Login

      Calgary | Regions | Local Traffic Report | Advertise on Action News | Contact

Login

Login

Please fill in your credentials to login.

Don't have an account? Register Sign up now.

Posted: 2018-12-14T03:47:25Z | Updated: 2018-12-14T03:47:25Z

CBS secretly reached a $9.5 million settlement with actress Eliza Dushku to keep her quiet about her complaints of sexual harassment by one of the networks leading actors, Michael Weatherly, according to a New York Times report published Thursday.

The harassment reportedly occurred while Dushku, 37, was contracted to appear in three episodes of the networks prime-time show Bull, in which Weatherly plays the lead role. There were also plans for Dushku to continue working on the show as a regular cast member, according to the draft of an investigators report obtained by the Times .

The actress told investigators looking into misconduct at CBS that Weatherly, who rose to fame starring in the networks hit drama NCIS, made inappropriate comments to her in front of cast and crew members.

The alleged harassment included Weatherly making a remark about her legs, saying he wanted to bend her over his leg and spank her and suggesting he wanted to have a threesome with Dushku.

Dushku confronted Weatherly about his behavior, according to the Times. Weatherly then sent a text message to CBS Television Studios President David Stapf. Later, Dushku was written out of Bull, which the actress believes was done in retaliation for speaking out about the harassment.

Through mediation, Dushku and the network reached a secret settlement of $9.5 million in January. The amount was what she wouldve been paid if she stayed on the show for four seasons, according to the Times.

Details of the confidential settlement were revealed during an investigation into allegations of forced oral sex and unwanted groping by former CBS Chief Executive Les Moonves . That investigation also looked into misconduct across the network.

She told investigators her story, apparently for the first time, after the settlement was reached.

Youre all I have at this point, she said, according to the Times. My story is true, and its really affected me, and I cant talk about it.

Weatherly apologized to Dushku in a statement to the Times, saying he was mortified that his jokes and humor offended her.

After reflecting on this further, I better understand that what I said was both not funny and not appropriate, and I am sorry and regret the pain this caused Eliza, he said.

Support Free Journalism

Consider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.

Support HuffPost

Dushku has appeared in hit shows including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and Dollhouse.

Dushku spoke out amid the Me Too movement when she revealed that a stuntman coordinator molested her when she was 12 and working on the 1994 thriller True Lies.

Also emerging during the Me Too movement is CBS history of alleged harassment. In addition to Moonves ousting, former CBS News host Charlie Rose was fired from the network after more than three dozen women accused him of sexual assault . CBS also terminated former 60 Minutes producer Jeff Fager after a New Yorker report accused him of threatening a CBS reporter looking into sexual assault claims.

Support Free Journalism

Consider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.

Support HuffPost