UltraViolet Says CBS Failed to Protect Employees From Abuse and Retaliation After Reporting Sexual Harassment to HR on Set of New Show “Carol’s Second Act”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, November 18, 2019
CONTACT: Anna Zuccaro | anna@unbendablemedia.com
UltraViolet Says CBS Failed to Protect Employees From Abuse and Retaliation After Reporting Sexual Harassment to HR on Set of New Show “Carol’s Second Act”
UltraViolet Says CBS Must Do Better, Changes to HR Reporting Infrastructure Amount to Nothing If Survivors and Reporters Go Unprotected
NEW YORK — Over the weekend, news outlets reported that writers Margee Magee and Broti Gupta resigned from their roles on the CBS show “Carol’s Second Act,” due to allegations of retaliation and inaction by the show’s producers, after they reported sexual harassment claims to CBS’ new human resources infrastructure, against an executive producer on the show.
In reaction to the reports, Shaunna Thomas, co-founder of UltraViolet, a leading national women’s group, explained:
“It is disappointing that despite CBS’ new HR policies and reporting infrastructure, sexual harassment survivors and people who report abuse continue to go unprotected from harm or retaliation. CBS has failed Margee Magee and Broti Gupta – and the failure to take their reports of harassment against “Carol’s Second Act” executive producer David Hunt, raises serious questions about the effectiveness of CBS’ new policies and reporting infrastructure since Moonves’ departure.
“Simply put – impact matters more than intentions, and it is clear that CBS has a lot more to do to make sure that its employees are protected when they report sexual abuse in the workplace. Rolling out new policies is only the first step, making sure they work effectively is key.
“CBS must do better.”
Last year, UltraViolet demanded that the CBS Board of Directors fire Les Moonves following multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. Specifically, UltraViolet:
- Commissioned a mobile billboard to circle CBS’ press tour in Los Angeles reading “We Believe the Women Sexually Harassed and Assaulted by Leslie Moonves – Why Doesn’t CBS?”
- Penned a letter to the CBS Board of Directors asking them to void Moonves’ settlement package and fire him for cause.
- Called for the firing of 60 Minutes executive producer Jeff Fager
- Protested outside the CBS shareholder meeting in NYC calling on the Board of Directors to fire Moonves for cause and deny him a potential $120m golden parachute.
Last month, UltraViolet members joined with survivors and activists to deliver more than 20,000 signatures, including by former NBC employees, to NBC News HQ in New York City, demanding the network to take immediate action to address abuses of power at the network. UltraViolet also sent an open letter to Comcast CEO Brian Roberts calling on him to commit to proactively develop a safe, equitable work culture that truly addresses abuses of power and laid out the crucial steps that the organization should take to do so.
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