Fans who tuned in Monday for the Season 9 premiere of CBS' "The Talk" saw a teaser that opened with the newest allegations against network CEO Les Moonves. The promo promised, “We’re talking about it.” Well, everyone that is, except for co-host Julie Chen, his wife of nearly 14 years.
Moonves resigned after Sunday's report from the New Yorker in which six new women accused him of sexual misconduct and intimidation, in addition to the six whose stories the magazine published on July 27. (When "The Talk" returned on July 30, Chen was present but declined to discuss the scandal on air, referring viewers to a Twitter statement expressing full support for her husband, who has denied the new allegations.
"As you all know, Julie's husband is in the news, and she's taking off time to be with her family," explained "Talk" co-host Sharon Osbourne, who described the premiere as "bittersweet."
After bringing the audience up to speed on Moonves' resignation with clips from "CBS This Morning" and "Good Morning America," Osbourne praised Chen and addressed the awkwardness surrounding the situation.
"First of all, I want to say that whatever times I've had of hardship over the last eight years, Julie has always been there for me. She's been a friend; she's somebody I admire and respect greatly, and it's very embarrassing and upsetting to have to talk about her husband, but we do. We feel it's right."
Osbourne added that she only knew the former CBS exec in a "superficial" way and that she believes the accusers due to the number and their similar accounts. "The stories are so similar, the pattern is so similar that for me, it's... (he's) not been convicted of any crime, but obviously, the man has a problem."
Becoming unsettled, Osbourne asked for her co-hosts' input, imploring them to "throw me a bone."
"I agree, Julie is our friend," Sara Gilbert concurred. "This is our ninth season, and we've been together since the beginning, I love her, I support her always. However, this is an important time in our culture, and just because this hits close to home, it doesn't change this story.
"All women's stories matter, and these women's stories matter," she added. "This is very serious, and the appropriate actions need to take place. I am happy when women are heard because for a long time, they haven't been."
Rapper/actress Eve, who joined the cast in November 2017, chimed in, adding, "I've now come to care for everyone woman at this table, and this is ridiculously difficult. I support Julie, and I'm praying for her and praying for her family and just sending her strength, because this is, it's really really hard. And I can't wait, and I hope and I that we get to a place where we don't have to talk about this anymore, where women are equal, where these stories just won't have to happen anymore."
Co-host Sheryl Underwood got visibly choked up as she tried to find a silver lining in the cloud: "Julie Chen, I know is very strong – a resilient women, but I think this is a blessing from God to be unburdened from secrets and unchained from lies and that now is the time for everyone to look inside themselves and become better people."
She added, "Today, we have got to understand that women are carrying this around. And then you wonder, 'Why I can't get a job?' and say, 'These things can't happen.' But today, we say enough is enough," she said. "And today, we say, 'We believe you, we hear you.'
"Hopefully, somebody's gonna ask you for forgiveness and somebody's going to say, 'I need to be a better person because God let your eyes open today,' " she concluded. "Do better with your life and never come back to this day, ever again."
For his part, Moonves denied the new allegations and reflected on his CBS career in a statement issued to USA TODAY Sunday night.
"Untrue allegations from decades ago are now being made against me that are not consistent with who I am," he said, calling his career at CBS "an incredible privilege."
"I am deeply saddened to be leaving the company," the statement continued. "I wish nothing but the best for the organization, the newly comprised board of directors and all of its employees."
Contributing Bill Keveney
More: CBS CEO Les Moonves becomes most powerful media exec to resign in wake of #MeToo
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