CBC radio boss Chris Boyce, the central figure in the Canadian pubcaster’s Jian Ghomeshi sex scandal, is on a leave of absence from his job.
The disciplinary move was expected after the CBC’s flagship newsmagazine show, The Fifth Estate, in late November questioned how Boyce handled an internal probe into allegations of sexual violence against Ghomeshi before the former radio personality was fired by the network and charged with four criminal counts of sexual assault.
Also placed on leave of absence “until further notice” is Todd Spencer, executive director of human resources and industrial relations, according to an internal memo issued Monday by the CBC and received by The Hollywood Reporter.
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“We recognize this is a difficult way to start off the year, but despite our current challenges, together we will get through this, and we do have a great future,” Heather Conway, executive director of English language services at the CBC, said in a memo to network employees. The charges follow the Toronto police investigation into Ghomeshi after nine women came forward to Canadian media outlets with allegations of sexual assault and sexual abuse.
Ghomeshi was fired by the CBC on Oct. 26, 2014, amid a media storm after he presented evidence to the pubcaster, thought to be texts, emails and videos, to prove he had engaged in aggressive sexual relations with consenting partners. CBC execs thought otherwise, concluded they had seen “graphic evidence” of physical harm done to an unidentified woman and dismissed Ghomeshi.
The former Canadian radio personality now faces a high-profile trial later this year to defend himself against the criminal charges, which include one count of choking.
