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“Obviously this has been a tough week at CBS,” network entertainment President Kelly Kahl said first thing today at the companys TCA presentation. “I know there was some speculation we might cancel this,” he added of the presentation as CBS struggles corporately and more under the weight of the sexual misconduct allegations against CEO Les Moonves.
“I struggle as well,” Kahl revealed on his personal feelings about the multiple accusations against Moonves that emerged in a New Yorker piece on July 27. “Leslie has ben an excellent boss and a mentor as well, at the same time we need to respect the voices that comes forward,” the exec, who was appointed to his job in May 2017 stated, clearly wanting to take the matter off the TCA table.
“The scope of what I can talk about is limited, “Kahl tried to concluded, with the legal eye to the situation, as had been the case on the Moonves participating CBS quarterly earnings call last week. “There is nothing more I can say about Les or the situation.”
If the exec thought that his opening remarks were going to effectively shut down further queries about the half a dozen sexual misconduct allegations against Moonves, Kahl was mistaken as question after question relentlessly took aim at the claims, the culture at CBS and the on-going investigations.
It was understandably a far far cry from the standing ovation that Moonves himself received when he walked on-stage at CBS Upfront Presentation on May 16 with his “hows your week been?” quip. That was a sarcastic reference to the then smoldering legal battle and Board showdown with Shari Redstone and National Amusement over the future of the company and possible merger with Viacom
RelatedLes Moonves & Top CBS Execs Accused Of Destroying Evidence In Corporate Battle With Shari Redstone
“The goal of any investigation is to get to the truth and I believe they will get to the truth,” Kahl pivoted, as he was asked about not just Moonves, but the now suspended NCIS producer Brad Kern and the on-going investigation over harassment claims against him and the overall culture at CBS. Gender and racial casting were also in the mx for Kahl but solo on the stage at the Beverly Hilton, the CBS Entertainment boss could not escape the glare of a company that is being hit at the highest levels in the executive suites and on the set of some of its biggest shows.
RelatedLes Moonves Exits Anita Hill Commission Amidst Sexual Misconduct Allegations
“Not saying were perfect, no large company is and there is always room for improvement,” Kahl told the assemble critics at the onset, stressing throughout the session that he believed CBS was also doing a better job on gender and other inclusion metrics on both sides of the camera. “We are committee to a collaborative, inclusive and safe workplace,” he tried to assert. “Even with all that is going on around us, we are still are running our business.”
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