Julie Chen Leaving The Talk Following Les Moonves Exit from CBS
Paul Dailly
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Julie Chen's days at CBS may well be numbered.
The anchor of The Talk is expected to reveal on Tuesday that she will be bowing out of the daytime talk show after nine seasons, according to USA Today.
Chen has been with the show since it kicked off in 2009, but there was a dark cloud cast over her future with the show when she didn't appear on the September 10th ninth season premiere.
What's more, her decision to skip the premiere came just one day after her husband, Les Moonves, was fired as CEO of CBS following the second wave of sexual harassment allegations lodged against him.
“I am taking a few days off from The Talk to be with my family,” Chen said in a statement released when the episode went out. “I will be back soon and will see you Thursday night on Big Brother.”
Related: Julie Chen Returns to CBS, Pays Tribute to Les Moonves
Chen returned to the network for that episode of Big Brother but stirred up some controversy in the final moments of the episode.
But what did she say?
“I’m Julie Chen Moonves. Goodnight.”
Chen does not typically say the "Moonves" part on the reality series, which she has worked on the series since it launched in 2000.
It caused many to wonder whether Julie was gearing up to part with the network, and given that she's out of The Talk, there's a good chance she could be leaving Big Brother next.
Related: Julie Chen Breaks Silence on Les Moonves Allegations
Despite being one of the top shows of the summer, CBS has yet to renew Big Brother for next summer. It's unclear whether the network is holding out unless Chen departs of her own accord.
It wouldn't make sense to cancel the series outright because it makes a lot of money, and drives avid viewers over to CBS All Access to catch the live feeds.
Chen has been supporting her husband since the allegations came to light.
“I have known my husband, Leslie Moonves, since the late ‘90s, and I have been married to him for almost 14 years,” she shared in a statement in July.
“Leslie is a good man and a loving father, devoted husband and inspiring corporate leader. He has always been a kind, decent and moral human being. I fully support my husband and stand behind him and his statement.”
Big Brother concludes for the summer September 26, but will that installment mark Chen's final appearance on the series?
Hit the comments below!
UPDATE: Julie Chen has quit The Talk. Watch her emotional goodbye below.
Paul Dailly was an Associate Editor for TV Fanatic.Follow him on X.
