Bucknell pulls references to Moonves after sexual misconduct allegations

Bucknell University reportedly removed all references to Les Moonves from its website over the weekend following sexual misconduct allegations the CBS chairman and CEO and prominent alumni. 

“Bucknell will not stand for sexual misconduct — on campus or beyond,” Bucknell’s president, John Bravman, said in a statement explaining the deletions, local news outlet Penn Live reported.

“We are evaluating any additional actions that may be appropriate,” he added.

Six women in a New Yorker piece published Friday accused Moonves, who graduated from Bucknell in 1971, of sexual harassment over the past three decades. Dozens more alleged that Moonves fostered a toxic culture of sexism and degradation at CBS.  

{mosads}Investigative reporter Ronan Farrow, who was one of three reporters to break the watershed story about media mogul Harvey Weinstein last year, published the Moonves exposé in The New Yorker after months of research and speaking to 30 current former and current CBS employees. 

Four women told Farrow that Moonves had forcibly touched or kissed them during business meetings, and two said Moonves physically intimated them and threatened to derail their careers.

All of the women said their careers suffered after they rejected the CEO’s advances.

“What happened to me was a sexual assault, and then I was fired for not participating,” said actress and writer Illeana Douglas.

Moonves in a statement to The New Yorker admitted “there were times decades ago when I may have made some women uncomfortable by making advances.” 

“But I always understood and respected — and abided by the principle — that ‘no’ means ‘no,’ and I have never misused my position to harm or hinder anyone’s career,” Moonves said. 

The allegations emerge as part of the “Me Too” movement against sexual assault, which has prompted a powerful cultural reckoning in which women across diverse industries have told their stories about sexual harassment in the workplace. The movement has resulted in dozens of powerful men being ousted from their positions in the media, politics, Hollywood and more. 

The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that CBS executives were discussing whether Moonves should step aside following the allegations. The media company’s board is scheduled to hold a conference call Monday, when they will likely discuss an internal investigation into Moonves’s behavior.