Stephen Colbert sadly but forcefully suggests CBS hold his cherished boss Les Moonves accountable for sexual misconduct

Stephen Colbert calls for Les Moonves to face accountability
(Image credit: Screenshot/YouTube/The Late Show)

On Monday, CBS's board of directors said it's "selecting outside counsel to conduct an independent investigation" of CBS chief Les Moonves, following allegations of sexual harassment from six women. "No other action was taken on this matter at today's board meeting." Stephen Colbert had a more robust response on Monday's Late Show. In his monologue, "I made a few jokes about my boss being in trouble," he noted. "And — are we still broadcasting? You know what? Don't tell me — I like a surprise."

This year of #MeToo reckoning has been objectively positive, Colbert said. "Because — and it's strange to have to say this — powerful men taking sexual advantage of relatively powerless employees are wrong. We know it's wrong now, and we knew it was wrong then," and we know this "because we know these men tried to keep the stories from coming out back then." What's going to happen with Moonves? Nobody knows, he said. "In a situation like this, I'd normally call Les."

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.