Before @RonanFarrow’s @NewYorker story on Les Moonves comes out later today, I’m going to re-up the reporting on a CBS showrunner who has been retained by the network despite multiple investigations into alleged harassment, retaliation and racially insensitive comments. First, 1/
@RonanFarrow @NewYorker In December, I reported this story for @variety about NCIS NOLA showrunner Brad Kern. 13 sources. They said, among other things, he allegedly harassed a nursing mother, continually made sexist remarks and made comments sources perceived as racist. google.com/amp/s/variety.…
@RonanFarrow @NewYorker @Variety In May, @McTelevision of @salon reported Kern was no longer NCIS NOLA showrunner, but was still going to work on the show every day. salon.com/2018/05/16/exc…
@RonanFarrow @NewYorker @Variety @McTelevision @Salon In June, I reported for @THR that Kern had been given a brand new two year deal. His contract had been set to run out in the spring of 2018. CBS chose to give him a new deal. Then they launched a third investigation into him via an outside law firm. hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/brad…
@RonanFarrow @NewYorker @Variety @McTelevision @Salon @THR CBS has said there have been no issues with Kern since the second CBS HR investigation (2 in 2 years btw) ended in Feb 2017. That doesnt square with the fact that he fired the mother who’d been pumping milk & who’d gone to HR, about a month *after* second HR investigation ended.
@RonanFarrow @NewYorker @Variety @McTelevision @Salon @THR I have spoken to dozens of sources. Multiple sources say that firing was alleged retaliation. Many —before &after 2nd HR investigation — say Kern created a racist, sexist work culture. And a vindictive one. Many pple told me he said they were fired even when they chose to leave.
@RonanFarrow @NewYorker @Variety @McTelevision @Salon @THR CBS recently let go Star Trek Discovery showrunners. The reporting @snoodit at @thr said there was alleged abusive treatment from those showrunners. It’s very difficult for me to comprehend why it was appropriate to fire them and give Kern a new deal.
@RonanFarrow @NewYorker @McTelevision In summary, whatever the Moonves story says—and I’ve no doubt Ronan has once again done an exemplary job—the issues at CBS go beyond Moonves. I hope those of us in the media continue to dissect the problematic cultures at many powerful companies that make the media we consume.
Expect this to be my refrain as the one year anniversary of the post-Weinstein tidal wave approaches: without real, *systematic* change on an *institutional* level, those abused and assaulted will continue to be driven out & abusers will continue to do what they do. More quietly.
I’ve no doubt many people feel *personally* changed by #MeToo revelations. That’s a start. But individual desire to do good ain’t much if institutional power protects people who’ve been amply proven to be problematic. I see little indication of institutional change in Hollywood.
I want to re-word one tweet in this thread. On a plane, apologies for poor word choice in that tweet. Altered version in next tweet.
@RonanFarrow @NewYorker In December, I reported this story for @variety about NCIS NOLA showrunner Brad Kern. 13 sources. They said, among other things, he allegedly harassed a nursing mother & continually made comments sources perceived as racist & sexist google.com/amp/s/variety.…
