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 An independent report investigating whether senior managers
at the national public broadcaster ignored Ghomeshi's behavior
because he boosted ratings, found that managers were aware of
his abusive conduct but did nothing to stop it.
The CBC fired Ghomeshi as host of Q, an internationally
syndicated CBC Radio music and arts program, in October 2014.
The CBC said it had seen graphic evidence that he had injured a
woman in what Ghomeshi said were consensual sex acts involving
bondage, discipline, sadism and masochism.
The report by law firm Rubin Thomlinson, commissioned by the CBC,
found that management failed to stop Ghomeshi's abusive
workplace behavior, which is separate from criminal charges he
is facing after several women came forward complaining of his
violent sexual behavior.
The report said Ghomeshi made inappropriate comments to
colleagues, gave unwanted back and shoulder massages, played
cruel jokes, and yelled at and shunned colleagues who displeased
him, in addition to other offensive behavior.
"Despite actual knowledge of concerns expressed by employees,
Mr. Ghomeshi's behavior was often left unexamined, characterized
as 'difficult' or was accepted as the norm of how hosts were
expected to behave," the report said.
"The evidence shows that while Mr. Ghomeshi's star was allowed
to rise, his problematic behavior was left unchecked."
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The broadcaster separately said it had severed ties with executives
linked to the scandal, radio executive Chris Boyce and human
resources executive Todd Spencer, who had been placed on leave in
January.
Ghomeshi is facing eight criminal charges, including seven charges
of sexual assault and one of choking. His trial has yet to begin.
Ghomeshi's lawyer said he will plead not guilty.
Ghomeshi, who interviewed a long roster of A-list celebrities
including Woody Allen, Barbra Streisand and Paul McCartney in seven
years at the helm of Q, initially defended his sexual tastes as a
"mild form of 'Fifty Shades of Grey'," referring to the bestselling
erotic novel.
The CBC is struggling to contain the fallout from the allegations,
which recall the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal at the British
Broadcasting Corp. The BBC was accused of turning a blind eye to the
sexual assaults because of Savile's celebrity.
(Reporting by Andrea Hopkins; Editing by Christian Plumb)
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