Julie Chen continues to use married name on ‘Big Brother’ after ‘The Talk’ exit

Julie Chen, wife of ousted CBS CEO Leslie Moonves and CBS host, has continued to express her support for her husband on “Big Brother,” as she departs her daytime role on CBS’s “The Talk.”

Chen opened Wednesday’s episode — pre-taped on Tuesday, the day her “Talk” exit was announced — with “Good evening, I’m Julie Chen Moonves.”

Chen, who’s hosted reality show “Big Brother” since its inception, began using her married name in the previous episode, after the allegations against Moonves were revealed in a New Yorker expose from Ronan Farrow. “I’m Julie Chen Moonves. Goodnight,” she said at the close of the episode.

Chen also tweeted a message of support for Moonves July 27, saying that she “fully support[s]” him and his refutation of the accusations against him. Since then, her use of her married name is the only public statement she has made.

In a pre-recorded video message announcing her departure from “The Talk,” Chen appeared on the show for the first time in over a week to confirm her departure. Though she didn’t directly address allegations against Moonves, she said, “I need to spend more time at home with my husband and our young son, so I’ve decided to leave ‘The Talk.’”

Chen thanked her fellow co-hosts, as well as the entire team behind the CBS show. She got emotional saying, “I have been at ‘The Talk’ since the day it started nine years ago, and the cast crew and staff have become family to me over the years.”

Moonves was accused of sexual misconduct and physical violence by numerous women in two separate New Yorker articles in late July.

Subscribe to Variety Newsletters and Email Alerts!

Advertisement