Lucy Nicholson/Reuters
Brad Kern, the former showrunner of NCIS: New Orleans, has been fired by CBS Television Studios after undergoing two human-resources investigations regarding his alleged verbal harassment towards women and “racially insensitive statements,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Kern was probed after he allegedly “harassed and unfairly penalized women, [and] repeatedly bullied a nursing mother.” He was also subject of a third outside investigation regarding “allegations of harassment, unprofessional conduct and vindictive behavior.” Kern, who previously worked on shows like the Charmed series, had a two-year deal with the network. He was reportedly demoted from showrunner to consulting producer at NCIS, and then suspended.
One former NCIS employee said they thought Kern would still be employed if former CBS CEO Les Moonves remained at the network. “This is the domino effect,” they told the publication. “I hope all the networks take a much closer look at who they give power to and how those people treat their employees, and pay serious attention to who gets propped up and protected, even if they harass people or behave inappropriately.” Moonves exited the network after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced in the New Yorker. Jeff Fager, former head of 60 Minutes, also left after harassment allegations were made public.