PBS host Tavis Smiley on Thursday denied all allegations of sexual misconduct and said the television network mishandled the investigation into those charges, after which PBS suspended his show.
“On the eve of the 15th season and 3,000th episode of my nightly talk show, I was as shocked as anyone else by PBS’ announcement today. Variety knew before I did,” Smiley said in a Facebook statement posted early Thursday. “I have never groped, inappropriately exposed myself, or coerced any colleague in the workplace, ever, in my 30-year career.”
But Smiley went on to denounce women he had previously had “consensual” sexual relationships with in the past.
“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. The PBS investigators refused to review any of my personal documentation, refused to provide me the names of any accusers, refused to speak to my current staff, and refused to provide me any semblance of due process to defend myself against allegations from unknown sources. Their mind was made up,” he wrote.
PBS announced late Wednesday it had suspended the “Tavis Smiley” show as the result of an external probe that found accusations Smiley harassed and assaulted women at his office were “credible.”
“Effective today, PBS has indefinitely suspended distribution of ‘Tavis Smiley,’ produced by TS Media, an independent production company. PBS engaged an outside law firm to conduct an investigation immediately after learning of troubling allegations regarding Mr. Smiley,” a PBS spokesperson said in an email to the Washington Examiner on Wednesday.
“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.”
But Smiley says the investigation was mishandled and that he was labeled guilty with insufficient evidence.
“PBS overreacted and conducted a biased and sloppy investigation, which led to a rush to judgment, and trampling on a reputation that I have spent an entire lifetime trying to establish. This has gone too far. And, I, for one, intend to fight back,” he said, without saying what he would do.
Smiley’s show has been distributed by PBS to member stations since 2004.
