CBS Paid Actress Eliza Dushku $9.5 Million To Settle Harassment Claims

In March 2017, Buffy the Vampire Slayer famed actress Eliza Dushku, signed up for CBS prime-time drama “Bull” for three episodes but things turned ugly when the actress claimed she was written off after she reported sexual harassment by the show's lead actor Michael Weatherly. She also alleged that the network tried to persuade her to bury the case by paying her a $9.5 million settlement, according to a report by the New York Times.

Reports say that Dushku called out the show's main star, Weatherly, for his sexual remarks that left her feeling uncomfortable. She claimed the lead actor had harassed her and as a result of her confrontation, she was then written off the show in retaliation.

According to the NYT, Dushku complained of "disgusting" behaviour. Weatherly had allegedly offered to spank her and have a threesome with her

The actress claimed that the misbehaviour started happening both in front of the cast and crew of Bull, which is now in its third season. According to the complaint, Weatherly is also under the scanner for calling a windowless van "a rape van". However, he told the New York Times that his comments were meant as jokes.

While Dushku declined to comment, in a statement on Wednesday, CBS confirmed the settlement and pledged to improve working conditions.

“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,” the statement said. “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.”

Reacting to the complaint, in an emailed statement to NYT, Weatherly apologized for his behaviour with Dushku.

“During the course of taping our show, I made some jokes mocking some lines in the script,” Weatherly said in the statement. “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.”

Feature Image credit: TVLine

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