Stephen Colbert didn’t shy away from addressing the sexual misconduct allegations leveled against his boss, CBS CEO Les Moonves. During Monday’s episode of The Late Show, the host responded to a recent report in the New Yorker detailing the sexual harassment accusations of six women.
“Everybody believes in accountability until it’s their guy, and make no mistake, Les Moonves is my guy,” Colbert said. “But accountability is meaningless, unless it’s for everybody. Whether it’s the leader of a network or the leader of the free world.”
In a statement provided to the New Yorker , Moonves acknowledged that there were times in the past that he may have made some women uncomfortable, but said that he never used his position to harm anyone’s career.
“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,” he said. “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.”
The CBS board has opted to select an outside counsel to investigate the allegations.
Watch the full clip below.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- How the Electoral College Actually Works
- Your Vote Is Safe
- Mel Robbins Will Make You Do It
- Why Vinegar Is So Good for You
- The Surprising Health Benefits of Pain
- You Don’t Have to Dread the End of Daylight Saving
- The 20 Best Halloween TV Episodes of All Time
- Meet TIME's Newest Class of Next Generation Leaders
Write to Megan McCluskey at megan.mccluskey@time.com