Investigator details numerous sex allegations against Tavis Smiley

Newly unsealed report reveals accusations from two decades ago

Numerous women have come forward to accuse former PBS talk show host Tavis Smiley of sexual misconduct that began 20 years ago, according to a detailed report by an independent investigator hired by the network to look into the allegations.

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The findings in the newly released report accuse the well-known political commentator of using his position to seek sexual relationships with guests of the show and those who worked under him.

The nearly 500-page report was filed by Smiley's own attorneys in the ongoing legal battle between the host and PBS, which canceled the “Tavis Smiley” show in December 2017 amid the allegations and an internal investigation.

In the report from March 2018, Smiley denies all the allegations.

Although he has previously acknowledged consensual relationships with employees, Smiley maintains that his conduct never ran afoul of his production company’s policies.

In the report, however, his accusers — one after another — say Smiley made inappropriate advances which, if they refused, would end in retaliation, termination or their dismissal from the show.

A series of allegations

In 2000, the report said, a woman accused Smiley of grabbing her buttocks during a photo shoot and said he later brushed up against her from behind and called it an accident.

The same accuser said she visited Smiley's home in 2016, when he opened the door wearing no pants, the report said.  He then invited her to bed with him and another woman, also an employee who was inside at the time, the report said.

Another woman who worked with Smiley between 2002 and 2003 alleged in the report that Smiley made her so uncomfortable during a dinner in Atlanta that she had to go to the bathroom and call her sister for consolation.

‘Keep it a secret’

One woman, a show producer, told investigators that she began a sexual relationship with Smiley on a work trip in the late 2000s after Smiley allegedly called her to his hotel room, saying “we just need to keep it a secret since I am your boss,” according to the investigator’s report.

That employee was eventually fired for work performance issues, the report said.

Another accuser said in the report that she was kicked off the show after she said Smiley found out she was not divorced.

One of Smiley’s former employees said in the report that the host urged her out to lunch soon after she started working for the network. At the restaurant, Smiley asked if she was in a relationship, the report said. Next, he allegedly asked about her bra size and even made an offer to buy her Victoria's Secret lingerie, the report said.

The employee said she dismissed Smiley's suggestions, and he threatened to make her walk back to the office alone, the report alleges. She was eventually laid off, according to the report.

Several other women in the report admitted they had consensual relationships with Smiley but acknowledged they were “put in a bad position when their boss hits on them,” the report said.

The report said the accusers were afraid to call out Smiley’s behavior because of his executive status over the show.

Tavis Smiley speaks in report

Smiley also talked to the independent investigator and is quoted in the report saying he never disciplined or fired an employee due to sexual relationships with him. He said he ended all consensual relationships with employees about 10 years ago.

Last week, Smiley appeared to reference the case in a post on Facebook.

“A weak case you play in the press, a strong case you play out in a court of law,” he wrote. “I look forward to my day in court February 10, which I have finally seen granted, after 2 years of fighting.”

Previously

In December 2017, PBS suspended distribution of Smiley's late-night talk show indefinitely after multiple allegations emerged against the host. Smiley sued the network the following February, alleging PBS breached its contract and damaged his production company. PBS then filed a countersuit against Smiley, asking for the return of $1.9 million in production expenses.

Despite recently losing a bid to have the PBS lawsuit thrown out, Smiley continues to maintain his innocence.

“Let me also assure you that I have never groped, inappropriately exposed myself or coerced any colleague in the workplace ever in my 30-year career," he said in 2017. “If having a consensual relationship with a colleague years ago is the stuff that leads to this kind of public humiliation and personal destruction, heaven help us,” he said later on Facebook.

Smiley was also once host of the “BET Tonight” show before the network abruptly announced in 2001 that his contract would not be renewed.