Thursday, March 28, 2024

Tavis Smiley Trashes PBS on ‘GMA’; PBS Claps Back: He ‘Needs to Get His Story Straight’ (Watch)

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Tavis Smiley on "Good Morning America" (Dec. 18, 2017)
Tavis Smiley on “Good Morning America” (Dec. 18, 2017)

*Embattled talk show host Tavis Smiley blasted his former employer PBS Monday for suspending distribution of his nightly show amid claims of sexual harassment, and the rebuke prompted PBS to clap back with receipts supporting its punitive action.

During a live interview on “Good Morning America” Monday, Smiley, 53, Smiley admitted to having consensual relationships with coworkers over the years but denied that he has ever wielded his power as their boss to coerce those relationships.

“I’ve never groped, I’ve never coerced” women into sexual relations on his staff “in 30 years over six different networks,” he told GMA’s Paula Faris.

He added, “I celebrate and applaud these women who had the courage to come out,” but he’s concerned that because of the recent climate, “people end up being guilty simply by accusations.”

Smiley said he can prove his relationships with employees were consensual “with letters, cards, gifts and, certainly, photographs.”

He noted that one woman with whom he had a romantic relationship remains on the staff of his TS Media banner, which produces “Tavis Smiley” as well as his syndicated radio show and other media.

“I certainly understand people can have a viewpoint any consensual relationship in the workplace is wrong … but there are also other points of view on this,” he said. “While we don’t encourage [them] …we don’t forbid them.”

He added: “I want to make sure we don’t lose all sense of nuance and proportionality in this conversation because if we do, people end up being guilty simply by accusation,” he said. “I’m not an angry black man and this notion of a hostile environment just doesn’t fit.”

In dragging PBS, Smiley maintained he was never informed that it had brought in an outside law firm to investigation what the network has called “multiple” and “credible” allegations of harassment. Smiley said he met with PBS executives and lawyers for three hours but was never informed of specific allegations. He said that meeting was scheduled “only under the threat of a lawsuit.”

Smiley was also critical of the fact that news of his suspension from PBS broke on Dec. 13 in Variety just minutes after the conclusion of that meeting.

“I’m human. I’m not perfect but this doesn’t rise to the level” of sexual misconduct, Smiley said of his past relationships. “PBS made a huge mistake here and they need to fix it.”

Paula Faris and Tavis Smiley
Paula Faris interviews Tavis Smiley on “Good Morning America” (Dec. 18, 2017)

Shortly after the interview aired, PBS released a statement through a spokesman which stated in no uncertain terms that it stands by its actions against Smiley.

“Tavis Smiley needs to get his story straight,” the statement begins. It goes on to highlight Smiley’s difficulty in the “GMA” interview remembering the exact number of current employees with whom he has had sexual relationships and more alleged discrepencies.

Read PBS’ full response to Smiley’s GMA appearance below:

“First, today on ‘Good Morning America,’ Mr. Smiley acknowledged he has had multiple sexual encounters with his employees, then struggled to recall the number of current employees with whom he has had sex. This contradicts his Facebook post from last week, where he cited only one previous relationship with an employee. Mr. Smiley even told viewers, ‘I don’t know where your heart’s going to lead you.’ PBS is certain that it should not lead to multiple sexual relationships between the owner of a company and subordinates over many years particularly where employment decisions may be linked to sex.”

“Second, Mr. Smiley claims he applauds women who have come forward, yet his company requires former and current employees to sign non-disclosure agreements. Witnesses who have bravely come forward to speak with the independent investigators retained by PBS report a fear of retribution for speaking out. PBS stands by its decision to respect the anonymity of those who are afraid to come forward publicly. Additional allegations are continuing to come to light since last week’s announcement.”

Walmart and Mills Entertainment have also dropped out of plans to back a 40-city live tour “Death of a King: A Live Theatrical Experience,” based on Smiley’s 2014 book of the same name about Martin Luther King Jr.

Smiley had previously denied the allegations and criticized the investigation in a video posted to Facebook.

Watch below:

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