Early this year, Eliza Dushku shared that she was molested at age 12 on the set of True Lies. It was a heartbreaking #MeToo story. What she did not share, because she had signed a confidentiality agreement, was something less awful but much more recent. Eliza was paid $9.5 million by CBS after she reported Michael Weatherly’s sexual harassment on the set of Bull . The New York Times reports that Dushku was paid $9.5 million in a secret settlement by CBS. Eliza joined the cast of Bull , a show that really exists about Dr. Phil, as a guest star whom they planned to make a series regular. The Buffy and Dollhouse alum quickly reported disturbing and outrageously inappropriate comments made by the show’s lead actor. Weatherly, best known for his roles on NCIS and Dark Angel , apparently made a series of not-safe-for-work (and not-safe-for-anywhere) comments. Eliza reported the sexual harassment … and quickly found herself written off of the series. Michael Weatherly made a rape joke, suggested a threesome, and made other comments of an overtly sexual nature to and about Eliza. According to the report obtained by the Times , Eliza laid out the incidents of sexual harassment. She reported that she made a gesture with three fingers, which prompted Michael to suggest that the two of them engage in a threesome with another cast member. She says that he would make comments — so apparently this happened multiple times — about bending her over his knee and spanking her. Gross, dude. Eliza also reported that he referred to a scene filmed at a windowless van and referred to it as a “rape van.” That last could have been a poor attempt at acknolwedging the creepiness of a windowless van, but it is not appropriate for a workplace. Though Eliza has not officially commented on the story, Michael did speak to the Times on the subject. “During the course of taping our show,” Michael says in his statement. “I made some jokes mocking some lines in the script.” “When Eliza told me that she wasn’t comfortable with my language and attempt at humor, I was mortified to have offended her and immediately apologized,” he says. “After reflecting on this further,” Michael adds. “I better understand that what I said was both not funny and not appropriate.”: “And I am sorry and regret the pain this caused Eliza,” Michael concludes. An apology is better than nothing. Sometimes, people need to unlearn bad behavior. Eliza did receive the $9.5 million settlement, said to be what she would have been paid as a castmember for four season of Bull . In exchange, she had to keep quiet about the sexual harassment and the circumstances of her being written off of the show. According to the draft of the investigation report, this case exemplifies one of a number of problems at CBS. That’s no surprise. In a professional environment where reports of a man’s sexual harassment lead to a woman being written off of a show, things are not good. There is hope that, with the ousting of Les Moonves, CBS can undo decades of damage. In a statement to People , CBS acknowledges that this is far from their finest moment as a network. “While we remain committed to a culture defined by a safe, inclusive, and respectful workplace, our work is far from done,” the statement reads. “The settlement of these claims,” CBS explains. “Reflects the projected amount that Ms. Dushku would have received for the balance of her contract as a series regular.” “And,” the statement says, the amount “was determined in a mutually agreed upon mediation process at the time.” Getting paid without doing the work may sound like a good deal, but it doesn’t help your resume or face-recognition. And no one should have to endure workplace sexual harassment. View Slideshow: #MeToo: Stars Share Stories of Sexual Harassment, Assault
Read the original here:
Eliza Dushku Accuses Michael Weatherly of Sexual Harassment
