Everything We Know About Longtime Big Brother Host Julie Chen Moonves

From Oprah Magazine

• Julie Chen Moonves, the longstanding host of Big Brother, will officially return for season 21 of the beloved show, set to premiere on June 25 and 26 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

• While she's been the show's host since 2000, Chen Moonves began using her married name on the air in 2018 as a show of support for her husband, Leslie Moonves, who left CBS last year amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

• Chen Moonves was one of the original hosts of CBS's The Talk, but departed the show in September shortly after Moonves's resignation.

For decades, Julie Chen has been household name thanks to her role as the host of Big Brother, which she’s held ever since the show’s debut in 2000. Before being known for the reality competition series, she served as a host on CBS This Morning in the early '90s and eventually moved on to make guest TV appearances in shows like Iron Chef Ameica, The Millers, NCIS: Los Angeles, Supergirl, and Jane the Virgin, among many others.

And while fans love her on the show, Chen–who last year began using her married name, Julie Chen Moonves–has also come under scrutiny because of her marriage to disgraced former CBS CEO Leslie Moonves. Here are the answers to a few key questions about Chen Moonves.

Who Is Julie Chen Moonves’s husband?

Leslie Moonves, who married Julie Chen in 2004, was the longtime Chairman and CEO of CBS. He resigned from the company in September of 2018, following numerous allegations of sexual harassment, abuse, and misconduct. Moonves negotiated an exit package after multiple women told The New Yorker that Moonves had harassed or abused them. The initial story by reporter Ronan Farrow detailed allegations from six women against Moonves, including an assault allegation from actress Illeana Douglas. Moonves ultimately did not receive an exit package, and has sued CBS in an attempt to secure it.

Chen Moonves has stood by her husband throughout the scandal, for which she’s drawn backlash. In a statement shortly after the allegations first broke, she called Moonves “a good man and a loving father, devoted husband and inspiring corporate leader” and a “kind, decent, and moral human being.”

The New York Times reported that marrying Chen was actually what put an end to Moonves’s pattern of harassment. Quoting from a report prepared for the CBS board, the Times story said:

Why did Julie Chen Moonves start using her married name?

Two months after releasing her statement, Chen Moonves reiterated her support for her husband in an even more public way. During a live episode of Big Brother season 20 last year, she pointedly signed off with the words: “From outside the Big Brother house, I’m Julie Chen Moonves. Goodnight.”

This was the first time she had used her married name in the sign-off, and the moment quickly went viral, inspiring backlash and think-pieces. Chen Moonves has continued to go by her married name ever since.

Why did Julie Chen Moonves leave The Talk?

One week after Moonves’s departure from CBS in September 2018, Chen Moonves announced that she was leaving The Talk in order to spend more time with her family.

“I have been at The Talk since the day it started nine years ago,” Chen Moonves said in a pre-recorded video. “The cast, crew and staff have become family to me over the years. But right now, I need to spend more time at home with my husband and our young son. So I’ve decided to leave The Talk. I want to thank everyone at the show for the wonderful years together. I will always, always cherish the memories we share. Most important, I want to thank you, the viewers, for allowing me into your home every day. It was a privilege I will always be grateful for. To everyone behind the scenes, I send you my love. I will miss you all very, very much.”

Chen Moonves’s exit wasn’t unexpected since she had already been absent from the show in the week leading up to her announcement as her co-hosts discussed the allegations against Moonves.

Is Julie Chen Moonves returning to Big Brother?

Following her departure from The Talk last year, CBS was quick to confirm that Chen Moonves would be staying on in her other long-running gig at the network. CBS announced in November that she would return to host the second season of Celebrity Big Brother, and more recently, Chen Moonves has confirmed that she’ll be back for Big Brother’s upcoming season 21, teasing the new season on Twitter.

On Monday, CBS confirmed that Chen Moonves will return to host season 21 of Big Brother, set to premiere during a two-night special on Tuesday, June 26 and Wednesday, June 27 at 8 p.m. ET.

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