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Les Moonves, CBS CEO and Survivor’s final casting barrier, steps down

By Daniel George

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 17: (L-R) Television host Jeff Probst, CBS Entertainment Chairman Nina Tassler,producer Mark Burnett and President and Chief Executive Officer of CBS Corporation Leslie Moonves attend the 'Survivor: 15 Years, 30 Seasons' celebration held at The Paley Center for Media on February 17, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 17: (L-R) Television host Jeff Probst, CBS Entertainment Chairman Nina Tassler,producer Mark Burnett and President and Chief Executive Officer of CBS Corporation Leslie Moonves attend the 'Survivor: 15 Years, 30 Seasons' celebration held at The Paley Center for Media on February 17, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images) /
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The man responsible for deciding the final selections for Survivor (and, allegedly, sexually harassing close to a dozen women), Les Moonves has left CBS.

On Saturday morning, investigative reporter Ronan Farrow of The New Yorker published another stunning report about CBS CEO Les Moonves and his alleged sexual misconduct as the company’s board member were coming close to negotiating his departure. Three hours after that report was published, the man who was in active discussions regarding Survivor casting decisions (among hundreds of other tasks) had stepped down from the company.

COO Joseph Ianniello will serve as acting president and CEO of CBS until a replacement is named. A $20 million donation will be served to organizations involved in sexual harassment and assault cases, and it is to be deducted from Les Moonves’ possible severance payments that might result from his departure from the company he’s served for the past two decades.

Les may still receive compensation despite the numerous accusations of outrageous behavior spanning the past few decades, depending on an independent investigation made by CBS. The company also added six new members to its governing board.

Where this places Survivor’s standing in CBS’ eyes is the least of worries one should have, especially in a story involving accusations of heinous, predatory sexual behavior that range from inappropriate to, if true, criminal. On those lesser important scales, though, it means that someone else will be responsible for making the final decisions in casts that Jeff Probst and production brings to CBS.

The entire reality competition division at CBS is up in the air, too, as Les Moonves oversaw The Amazing Race and Big Brother. That last show, in particular, has Julie Chen as the host, as she had started dated Les during his previous marriage and was married to him a year later. Who knows if she will remain at CBS, either.

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