Julie Chen leaves 'The Talk'

SCREEN CAPTURE / CBS

Panelists on 'The Talk' just viewed the videotape of Julie Chen's statement.

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JULIE CHEN, still hurting from Les Moonves’ forced resignation as CEO of CBS following allegations of sexual harassment, announced on the show today (Sept. 18) that she is leaving The Talk.

The veteran host and newscaster did not appear on the show in person, but made the announcement following the resignation of her husband through a videotaped message which she also tweeted to her fans.

“I have been at The Talk since the day it started nine years ago … we have become a family, but right now I need to spend more time at home with my husband and our young son,” Chen said from the set of Big Brother, a show she has also co-hosted since its debut in 2000.

The decision allows Chen to avoid the awkward situation on The Talk where she would be expected to address her husband’s ouster.

Immediately following  Moonves' resignation more than a week ago, Chen announced she would be taking a few days off from the daytime program. Co-hosts Sharon Osbourne and Sara Gilbert expressed sympathy and support for Chen while she was gone, but also seem to indicate their support for the network’s decision to push Moonves out.

In her taped message, Chen also directed a message to the other women on the show.

“I know this show and the sisterhood it stands for will live on for many years – ladies, you’ve got this and I am proud to call you my friends,” Chen said. “I love you.”

The Talk features a number of outspoken woman talking about the issues of the day. Chen is largely considered the lead host of the program and arguably the show’s biggest name. She has been on The Talk since it launched in 2010. Gilbert and Osbourne have also been on the program since the beginning.

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Julie Chen missing after new her husband resigns from CBS amid sexual misconduct allegations

SCREEN CAPTURE / CBS

Co-hosts of 'The Talk' couldn't help but talk about their missing co-host Julie Chen and her husband Les Moonves.

TELEVISION HOST  Julie Chen is taking time off from The Talk after her husband, Les Moonves, resigned from the top job at CBS following sexual harassment allegations, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Chen did not appear on the Season 9 premiere today (Aug. 10, Monday) of the popular daytime talk show.

“I am taking a few days off from The Talk to be with my family. I will be back soon and will see you Thursday night on Big Brother,” she said in a statement.

RELATED: Chen's career may be affected

Her absence was the talk of The Talk, however awkward that might have been for Chen’s co-hosts.

“I want to say that whatever times I’ve had of hardship over the past eight years, Julie has always been there for me,” said Sharon Osbourne. “She’s been a friend. She’s been someone who I admire and respect greatly. It’s very embarrassing and upsetting to have to talk about her husband, but we do. We feel it’s right,” Variety reported she said.

Fellow co-host Sara Gilbert elaborated further.

“This is an important time in our culture, and just because this hits close to home, it doesn’t change the story. All women’s stories, and these women’s stories, matter. This is very serious, and the appropriate actions need to take place. I am happy when women are heard because for a long time, they haven’t been,” she said.

SCREEN CAPTURE / CBS

When sexual misconduct allegations first arose about her husband, Julie Chen showed up to work on 'The Talk.'

The Hollywood Reporter reports Obsourne has exchanged messages with Moonves since the controversy broke.

That didn’t stop her from being blunt.

“Why is it that when men get power, it goes to their testicles? I do not know why, but it’s true,” she said.

Moonves on Sunday night called the allegations “untrue” and that he is “deeply saddened” to leave the company.

His buyout is a reported $100 million, according to CNBC.

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Chen stands by her husband; CBS punts on Les Moonves allegations

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'The Talk' host Julie Chen briefly addressed the allegations against her husband.

JULIE CHEN, host of the CBS show The Talk, didn't say much today (July 30) about the allegations against her husband, CBS CEO Les Moonves.

At the beginning of the show, after walking out on the stage to applause, Chen, one of the promienent Asian Americans on American television, addressed the elephant in the room head-on. She said that her previous statement is her only comment on the matter.

“Some of you may be aware of what’s been going on in my life for the past few days,” she said at the opening of the show. “I issued the one and only statement I will ever make on this topic on Twitter. I will stand by that statement today, tomorrow, forever.”

RELATED: Julie Chen's statement

The audience broke out in applause and Chen said, "That's it," then continued with the rest of her show, the first episode since last Friday when a story from The New Yorker was published saying six women had come forward to accuse the CBS head of sexual misconduct.

Today was the first workday after the New Yorker story was published.

CBS told media it was “in the process of selecting outside counsel to conduct an independent investigation.” But after a regularly scheduled call with the board of directors, CBS had not taken any action against Moonves. “No other action was taken on this matter at today’s board meeting,” they said in a statement.

Moonves makes more than $69 million annually, according to the New York Times. If he was to be fired without being found guilty of these accusations, the company would owe him an exit package of $184 million.

One of the accusers, actress Illeana Douglas, alleged he violently kissed her. "You think, how long is this going to go on? I couldn't get him off me," she said.

All of the women say they believe their careers suffered because they rejected his advances.

Moonves said in a statement he regretted "immensely" having "made some women uncomfortable" in the past.

Chen issued a statement Friday defending her husband.'

CBS star Chen, who also hosts Big Brother, and Moonves have been married 14 years. He is largely credited for CBS success in the last decade.

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Julie Chen's career may be affected by allegations against her husband

Julie Chen and husband Les Moonves.

THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT allegations against CBS CEO Les Moonves might impact the future of television host Julie Chen.

After the bombshell revelations from a new New Yorker report written by Ronan Farrow, Chen released a statement Friday (July 27) defending Moonves, her husband of 14 years.

In the New Yorker article, Moonves, CBS' head honcho, was accused by six women who said he forcibly touched or kissed them in the workplace and when they rejected him, their careers were negatively affected.

“Throughout my time at CBS, we have promoted a culture of respect and opportunity for all employees, and have consistently found success elevating women to top executive positions across our company,” Moonves told the New Yorker in a statement. 

“I recognize that there were times decades ago when I may have made some women uncomfortable by making advances. Those were mistakes, and I regret them immensely. But I always understood and respected—and abided by the principle—that ‘no’ means ‘no,’ and I have never misused my position to harm or hinder anyone’s career. This is a time when we all are appropriately focused on how we help improve our society, and we at CBS are committed to being part of the solution.”

Chen, as host for The Talk and Big Brother, is one of the most prominent Asian American TV personalities. No doubt the situation will get awkward at work. The Monday (July 30) episode of The Talk will likely be one of the most watched shows in the program's history if she shows up as co-host.
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On Friday afternoon, a new New Yorker report written by Ronan Farrow revealed allegations of sexual harassment against CBS CEO Les Moonves, spanning from the 1980s into the early 2000s. Six women say the network chairman forcibly touched or kissed them in the workplace, physically intimidated them and/or threatened their careers. After rejecting him, all allege their careers were negatively affected. Moonves issued a statement denying their claims that he had “misused” his “position,” while admitting that “there were times decades ago when I may have made some women uncomfortable by making advances.” Said Moonves, “Those were mistakes, and I regret them immensely. But I always understood and respected — and abided by the principle — that ‘no’ means ‘no,’ and I have never misused my position to harm or hinder anyone’s career.” Now, Julie Chen, Moonves’s wife and host of Big Brother on CBS, has tweeted a statement of support for her husband.