November 30, 2017
CNN anchor Jake Tapper responded to reports on Wednesday that CNN had dismissed a senior producer on his weekend show over complaints of workplace misconduct and expressed his support for the decision.
Tapper responded to a tweet from Washington Post reporter Paul Farhi, who broke the story on Wednesday afternoon. Teddy Davis, who had been with CNN since 2015 and mostly worked on Tapper's Sunday morning program, "State of the Union," was let go by the network after three women complained about behavior "that does not align with the standards and values of CNN," according to the report.
And in still more harassment news: @cnn tells me it dismissed Teddy Davis, senior producer of @jaketapper's "State of the Union" program, over behavior "that does not align with the standards and values of CNN." Three women had complained about Davis.
— Paul Farhi (@farhip) November 29, 2017
"This tweet is accurate," Tapper, a Philadelphia native, responded in a tweet roughly an hour later. "When CNN executives were told about these complaints, they reacted swiftly and appropriately, as they should. Workplaces need to be safe and I am fully supportive of CNN's action."
This tweet is accurate. When CNN executives were told about these complaints, they reacted swiftly and appropriately, as they should. Workplaces need to be safe and I am fully supportive of CNN's action. https://t.co/S4ZPNfTCPm
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) November 29, 2017
Citing a source with knowledge of the matter, CNN's Brian Stelter reported that a CNN investigation found that Davis had made colleagues uncomfortable at times.
The network did not detail the allegations in a statement released to multiple news outlets.
CNN statement: "A comprehensive investigation was conducted as soon as this matter was brought to our attention. The behavior attributed to Mr. Davis does not align with the standards and values of CNN and Mr. Davis is no longer with the company." https://t.co/XKj2uOQPse
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) November 29, 2017
Politico noted that the news broke just before Tapper interviewed former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson on "The Lead" about the recent wave of sexual harassment allegations from the entertainment and media industries to Capitol Hill.
Davis' dismissal also followed surprising news on Wednesday morning that NBC News had fired "Today" show anchor Matt Lauer amid an allegation of inappropriate sexual behavior with a colleague.
Lauer's dismissal came just days after CBS and PBS both cut ties with longtime TV host Charlie Rose over allegations of sexually harassing and groping multiple women.
