Howard Stern goes after CBS CEO Les Moonves on his show

Getty
Images

• Howard Stern criticized CBS CEO Les Moonves on his
  Monday Sirius XM radio show for at least 45 minutes.
• Stern called Moonves, who was accused by six women of
  sexual misconduct in a New Yorker report last month, a “shark”
  who tried to ruin his life.
• CBS Radio sued Stern in 2006 for allegedly violating
  his contract.
• Stern admitted he became emotional in a meeting with
  Moonves at the time, and told Moonves, “We’re going to
  war, and I’m going to win.”

---

 

Howard Stern isn’t shocked that CBS CEO Les Moonves is facing
heat. The outspoken shock jock went after Moonves on his Sirius
XM radio show on Monday for at least 45 profanity-filled minutes,
and called Moonves a “shark” who tried to ruin Stern’s life.

Moonves was accused by six women of sexual
misconduct in a New Yorker report last month, and the CBS
board has since decided to hire outside legal
counsel to conduct an investigation while Moonves remains at
the company. Stern seemed pleased, but not surprised, that
Moonves is under fire. 

“I know his true nature. He’s a shark,” Stern said on
Monday’s show.

Even in 2001, Stern foresaw Moonves’
troubles. 
“He’s just a friggin’ snake in
the grass,” Stern said in an old clip h
e played on
Monday’s show. “Big president of CBS, he’ll fall.”

In 2006, CBS Radio sued Stern for $500 million for allegedly
violating his contract. Stern was leaving CBS Radio for Sirius
XM, and CBS Radio accused Stern of promoting the new job on his
CBS Radio show. In a settlement, Sirius agreed to pay CBS Radio $2
million for the rights to 20 years of Stern’s show.

“I knew this was just some sort of bad, like, ‘We’re going
to f— with you because you’re leaving us,'” Stern reminisced.
“It’s like a stalker who says, ‘You know what? You left me, we
broke up, but I’m going to f— your life up.’ And I didn’t do
jack s— to Les Moonves, except make him money, and I was pissed
and upset and scared.”

Stern said he met with Moonves
to explain himself, but became emotional. Stern said he started
to cry, but then became angry, and told Moonves, “We’re going to
war, and I’m going to win.”

“When I say emotional, I start crying in front of Les,”
Stern said. “I’ve never really admitted that before. I start
crying, actual tears.”

Stern also called out Moonves’ wife and co-host of CBS’
“The Talk,” Julie Chen, who publicly supported Moonves after the
allegations became known.

“Julie should’ve said, ‘Listen, I’m a woman. Listen, it’s
obviously awkward. I’m married to Les Moonves, but I’m not going
to come on the air and degrade what these women are saying,'”
Stern said.