[videowaywire video_id=”V4KB1V2C503CWLRH”]
*Tavis Smiley, a man with a big problem these days, says he is innocent of the sexual harassment claims brought against him by PBS, which suspended him for having sex with staffers.
Smiley, who was suspended on Wednesday, says he only learned of the PBS investigation through former staffers who let him know they’d been contacted. He says he confronted his bosses, and only then did investigators talk to him … for 3 hours.
It’s clear Smiley isn’t happy with what went down — he says investigators refused to talk to his current staff or accept documentation supporting his side of the story. He insists he “never groped, inappropriately exposed myself or coerced any colleague in the workplace ever in my 30 year career.”
In a Facebook video posted early Thursday morning, Smiley said he was “shocked” to hear PBS’s sudden announcement and intends to “fight back” against the network’s “so-called investigation.”
NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED: MEL B PAYING EX $500K IN SPOUSAL SUPPORT – OMAROSA OWES $30K IN BACK TAXES
He said he has the “utmost respect” for all women, and celebrates “the courage of those women who have come forth of late to share their own truth.”
“Let me also assure you that I have never groped, inappropriately exposed myself or coerced any colleague in the workplace ever in my 30-year career,” Smiley said.
“If having a consensual relationship with a colleague years ago is the stuff that leads to this kind of public humiliation and personal destruction, heaven help us,” he added in a written statement posted on Facebook.
In its statement, PBS said it had “engaged an outside law firm to conduct an investigation immediately after learning of troubling allegations regarding Mr. Smiley.”
“This investigation included interviews with witnesses as well as with Mr. Smiley. The inquiry uncovered multiple, credible allegations of conduct that is inconsistent with the values and standards of PBS, and the totality of this information led to today’s decision.”
Tavis argues that there’s a bigger conversation to be had about how men and women should be able to interact in the workplace.
He also says there’s a bigger picture conversation to be had about how men and women should be able to interact in the workplace.
We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!
