The host, whose contract was suspended and has since been terminated, is suing the public broadcaster for dropping him. PBS has issued a response to his lawsuit — and it details witness accounts about the talk show host’s alleged sexual harassment and dalliances with subordinates.
Smiley claims PBS used a sexual misconduct investigation as a pretext to get rid of him, but the network says the decision to suspend his show was justified.
Following his firing from PBS after allegations of sexual relationships with subordinates, Tavis Smiley told ABC’s Good Morning America Monday that he’s never coerced anyone into a relationship but has had consensual relationships in the workplace. He added that PBS made a mistake. The public broadcaster shot back, “Tavis Smiley needs to get his story straight,” it said in a statement, which also promised more accusations: “Additional allegations are continuing to come to light since last week’s announcement.”
“PBS made a huge mistake,” Tavis Smiley told ABC’s Good Morning America today, in his first live interview since PBS suspended distribution of his interview program indefinitely, over sexual misconduct allegations. The Tavis Smiley Show has aired on PBS for 14 seasons.
