Tavis Smiley Accused Of Grabbing Woman’s Butt, Inappropriate Touching & Firing Women Who ‘Knew Too Much’ About His Alleged Relationships In PBS Investigative Report 

Tavis Smiley 

Tavis Smiley Accused Of Grabbing Woman’s Butt, Inappropriate Touching & Firing Women Who ‘Knew Too Much’ About His Alleged Relationships In PBS Investigative Report

Tavis Smiley has been facing sexual misconduct allegations for nearly two years, but the claims against him that are detailed in a report that was recently unsealed, span across the last couple of decades.

The report from an external investigator retained by PBS, Tavis Smiley is accused of making inappropriate sexual comments, inappropriate touching, verbal abuse, and having sexual relationships with his subordinates and multiple guests that appeared on his show. Tavis Smiley’s PBS talk show was canceled in December 2018 as he faced the allegations. Smiley responded to the network’s move with a breach of contract lawsuit against PBS, and PBS filed a countersuit requesting to be reimbursed $1.9 million for production expenses.

The nearly 500-page report was filed by Smiley’s team to support his breach of contract claims. See the report here.

As for the allegations in the report, a former worker said that Smiley allegedly asked her to lunch just a few days after she was hired. He allegedly contacted her on her personal cell phone (rather than her office phone) and told her where to meet him so they could drive to lunch together. They were reportedly both at the office at the time. While at lunch, Smiley allegedly asked the woman if she had a boyfriend, and allegedly asked what her bra size was when they were driving back to the office. She claims he allegedly said he’d take her to Victoria’s Secreta The Grove and

“buy you some stuff, some panties.”

The accuser laughed but Smiley allegedly insisted and reportedly added,

“If you don’t tell me what bra size you wear, I will make you walk back to the office.”

She also claims he left a message on her cell phone voicemail allegedly telling her she looked “so good” while wearing a pink dress. The employee was ultimately fired and was allegedly told by others that it was because she “knew too much” about Smiley’s alleged misconduct.

While many of the women said their alleged relationship with Smiley was consensual, they also claimed that it affected their working environment.

One woman was a guest on Smiley’s show in the late 200s (2008 or 2009) said she had a sexual relationship with Smiley. She said she “uncomfortably” agreed to the alleged sexual contact and claimed

“women are put in a bad position when their boss hits on them.”

She said she was not asked to return to the show.

A woman who previously worked as a traveling producer for Smiley also shared her claims with investigators. She alleged that she and Smiley had a sexual relationship that started while they were on a work trip together. She said a hotel receptionist allegedly told her Smiley wanted her to come to his room but insisted it was for business. Still, she claims that when she got there, he allegedly came on to her. She said she responded with

“Look, I worked really hard for this job, and I am not trying to lose it because of a relationship with you.”

Smiley allegedly reassured her she wouldn’t get fired since she was “smart” but allegedly added,

“we just need to keep it a secret since I am your boss.”

She said she later fired after colleagues found out about their alleged relationship, but was told it was because of her lacking working performance. She said she’s convinced that Smiley got her fired because he allegedly had multiple relationships with other women at the office.

Another former guest on the show said that Smiley took issue with her being married, and allegedly told her she was unattractive while pregnant. She was also reportedly not asked to come back to the show.

Other women claim that Smiley allegedly got physical with them. One woman said that around 2000, the former talk show host allegedly grabbed her butt while they were taking a picture together. She also alleges that he allegedly walked closely by her to make sure his penis touched her butt and allegedly acted as if it was an accident. She also claims that he allegedly opened the door without pants on when she went to his home in 2016. He allegedly requested that she have a threesome with executive producer Kimberly McFarland, who the woman said was allegedly nude in Smiley’s bed at the time, appearing to be afraid.

One woman said she worked with Smiley from 2002-2003 and said that Smiley allegedly came on to her while they were at dinner during a work trip to Atlanta.

Smiley allegedly questioned why she was

“playing so hard to get.”

He allegedly invited her to his room. She said he made her so uncomfortable that she went to the bathroom to call her sister.

Smiley has vehemently denied the accusations against him. He told the investigator that he’s never participated in any inappropriate conversations or misconduct. He said he has never said

“anything generally misogynistic about women.”

He also denied allegations that he disciplined or fired a worker for knowing too much about his alleged sexual relationships, or for being intimate with him. He added that he’s never told his staff to do so.

He added that he ended all consensual relationships with workers roughly a decade ago, even though the report alleges that he had multiple relationships within the last 10 years.

What are your thoughts on the claims in the unsealed report? Tell us in the comments. [Variety]