In her return to “Big Brother” on Thursday night, Julie Chen didn’t mention the scandal that led her husband, Less Moonves, to resign as CEO of CBS on Sunday.
But she did make a strong statement of sorts when she signed off at the end of the episode: “I’m Julie Chen Moonves. Goodnight.”
Chen’s appearance on “Big Brother” marked her first time on CBS since her husband resigned on Sunday hours after the publication of an article by Ronan Farrow in New Yorker, in which six more women accused him of sexual misconduct.
Farrow had previously published a story on Aug. 6 detailing accusations of sexual misconduct against Moonves, which prompted the board of CBS to hire two firms to investigate the longtime CEO as well as workplace culture at the network.
Chen has been a no-show this week on her other CBS production, “The Talk,” saying in a statement provided to TheWrap minutes before the show started on Monday that “I am taking a few days off from ‘The Talk’ to be with my family. I will be back soon and will see you Thursday night on ‘Big Brother.’”
Back in July, after Ronan Farrow’s initial bombshell New Yorker story laid out various accusations against Moonves, Chen briefly discussed the news on “The Talk.”
“Some of you may be aware of what’s been going on in my life the past few days,” Chen said at the top of the July 30 episode. “I issued the one and only statement I will make on Twitter. I stand by that statement today, tomorrow, and forever.”
In that statement, Chen said: “”I have known my husband, Leslie Moonves, since the late ’90s, and I have been married to him for almost 14 years. Leslie is a good man and a loving father, devoted husband and inspiring corporate leader. He has always been a kind, decent and moral human being. I fully support my husband and stand behind him and his statement.”
Moonves and Chen, who were married in 2004, have one son together. The accusations against Moonves generally predate their relationship.