Less than 24 hours after news broke of her plan to exit the daytime talk show, the longtime co-host confirmed the news herself on Tuesday’s broadcast in a pre-taped video message to viewers.
“I have been at The Talk since the day it started nine years ago and the cast, crew and staff have become family to me over the years, but right now I need to spend more time at home with my husband and our young son, so Ive decided to leave The Talk. I want to thank everyone at the show for the wonderful years together. I will always, always cherish the memories we shared. Most important, I want to thank you, the viewers, for allowing me into your home every day. It was a privilege that I will forever be grateful for,” she said in her video statement.
“To everyone behind the scenes, I send you my love. I will miss you all very very much,” Chen continued with tears welling up in her eyes.
As Chen concluded, “I love you all and I know this show and the sisterhood it stands for will live on for many, many, many more years to come. You ladies got this and I cannot be more proud to call you my friends. I love you.”
“She made the decision,” a source told E! News of her exit. The insider elaborated that she wants to focus on her family. Chen and Moonves are parents of 8-year-old son, Charlie Moonves. “She is remaining on Big Brother because the demands are more manageable. ”
The source noted that the Big Brother finale is next week, which frees up Chen’s schedule for months, so she can focus on her family without leaving the show. When it resumes, it involves one full day weekly of taping and then about an hour on another day.
“Untrue allegations from decades ago are now being made against me that are not consistent with who I am. Effective immediately I will no longer be Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CBS,” he said in part of a statement. “I am deeply saddened to be leaving the company. I wish nothing but the best for the organization, the newly comprised board of directors and all of its employees.”
As promised, she appeared on Big Brother three days later, where she notably signed off using her full name—Julie Chen Moonves—instead of her usual Julie Chen.
She issued her one and only statement after the first round of sexual misconduct allegations against her husband were published by Farrow in July. “Throughout my time at CBS, we have promoted a culture of respect and opportunity for all employees, and have consistently found success elevating women to top executive positions across our company. I recognize that there were times decades ago when I may have made some women uncomfortable by making advances,” Les said in a statement at the time. “Those were mistakes, and I regret them immensely. 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. This is a time when we all are appropriately focused on how we help improve our society, and we at CBS are committed to being part of the solution.”
“Leslie is a good man and a loving father, devoted husband and inspiring corporate leader,” Chen commented in a statement she issued on Twitter at the time. “He has always been a kind, decent and moral human being. I fully support my husband and stand behind him and his statement.”
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