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CBS paid ‘Bull’ actress Eliza Dushku $9.5 mn to settle harassment claims
NEW YORK, Dec 15, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – US television network CBS paid $9.5
million Eliza Dushku, an actress on primetime drama “Bull,” and wrote her off
the show after she claimed the lead actor had harassed her.
Michael Weatherly made several lewd comments or jokes in front of the
production team referring to Dushku’s physique, with sexual connotations,
according to The New York Times, which first reported the development.
The actor acknowledged having made most of the comments, but insisted that
they were not sexual advances.
Dushku shared her discomfort at the remarks with the production team before
speaking with Weatherly, and the situation did not improve.
Several days later, the actress learned that she had been written off the
show even though the production team had previously told her it was planning
to give her character a recurring role in the series.
After weighing taking legal action against CBS, the 37-year-old actress
turned to mediation, which led to an agreement. The settlement amount
corresponds to the payment she would have received had she fulfilled the
entire term of her contract.
The network is reeling from having had to fire its CEO Les Moonves in
September over sexual harassment and assault claims. Last year, star host
Charlie Rose was fired after eight women accused him of sexual harassment.
“The allegations in Ms Dushku’s claims are an example that, while we remain
committed to a culture defined by a safe, inclusive and respectful workplace,
our work is far from done,” CBS said.
But no action was taken against the man who since 2016 plays the role of
Jason Bull, a psychologist who counsels lawyers during trial.
“During the course of taping our show, I made some jokes mocking some lines
in the script,” Weatherly, who was a star of the network’s leading drama NCIS
for 13 seasons, told the Times.
“When Eliza told me that she wasn’t comfortable with my language and
attempt at humor, I was mortified to have offended her and immediately
apologized.
“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.”
BSS/AFP/GMR/0927 hrs