Chuck Lorre weighs in on Moonves sexual harassment claims

Chuck Lorre almost dodged a question which indirectly referenced the sexual harassment allegations against CBS Corp CEO Leslie Moonves, but the writer-producer soon went in to emphasise that "it's important to have a safe work environment".

In an explosive article published in The New Yorker last Friday, six women alleged their careers suffered when they rebuffed Moonves' unwanted advances. Over two dozen company employees, past and present, also detailed incidents of harassment, gender discrimination or retaliation at CBS.

The 65-year-old showrunner has three hit comedies at the channel such as "The Big Bang Theory", its spin-off "Young Sheldon" and "Mom".

At 2018 Television Critics Associations' Summer Press Tour, Lorre was asked what is his role, as a powerful producer at the network, in making sure that there is a safe environment, Deadline reported.

"I don't think this is the venue to discuss what is going on there," the producer replied, who was at the event to promote his new Netflix series, "The Kominsky Method".

"The Big Bang Theory" creator, however, addressed the issue of sexual harassment in a broader sense, saying one cannot work in an "unsafe environment".

"I do think it is important to have a safe work environment. I have been in some unsafe work environments in television; you can read about them. You can't do good work in an unsafe environment and it has to be made safe for everyone.

"Why else would anyone want to work in that environment. You can't do comedy if you are frightened. You can't do good work if you don't feel safe," Lorre said.

He further insisted it should "go without saying" that everyone deserves "common courtesy and decency".

After the claims surfaced, CBS announced that it had launched an investigation into the "recently reported" alleged misconduct.