Eliza Dushku Paid $9.5 Million by CBS Over Sexual Harassment Claim Against Michael Weatherly
Eliza Dushku was paid $9.5 million by CBS in a secret settlement after she reportedly made a sexual harassment claim against her co-star Michael Weatherly.
The 37-year-old actress appeared on three episodes of the CBS series Bull earlier this year and was expected to have a larger role on the series, but she was written off the show.
The $9.5 million settlement that Eliza received represents the amount of money she would have made if she remained on the show for the duration of her contract.
“The allegations in Ms. Dushku’s claims are an example that, while we remain committed to a culture defined by a safe, inclusive and respectful workplace, our work is far from done,” CBS said in a statement to The New York Times. “The settlement of these claims reflects the projected amount that Ms. Dushku would have received for the balance of her contract as a series regular, and was determined in a mutually agreed upon mediation process at the time.”
The settlement was discovered during an investigation into the allegations against former CBS president Les Moonves.
Michael responded to the allegations with an apology. He said, “During the course of taping our show, 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. After reflecting on this further, 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.”