'NCIS: New Orleans' Showrunner Was Twice Investigated for Misconduct
Brad Kern, whose TV credits goes back to 'Remington Steele,' prompted complaints of workplace hostility.
NCIS: New Orleans executive producer and showrunner Brad Kern has twice been investigated by CBS TV Studios' human resources department for misconduct, following several colleague complaints about workplace hostility.
“We were aware of these allegations when they took place in 2016, and took them very seriously,” CBS TV Studios said Thursday in a statement. “Both complaints were acted upon immediately with investigations and subsequent disciplinary action. While we were not able to corroborate all of the allegations, we took this action to address behavior and management style, and have received no further complaints since this was implemented.”
Disciplinary actions are said to have included six months' worth of sensitivity training, which was completed in February, and marked an end to the any official complaints filed.
Kern has been one of the more prolific writers and executive producers for CBS TV Studios. His credits before his 2015 arrival on the popular NCIS spinoff include The CW's Beauty and the Beast, Charmed and New York Undercover. He also has written for Remington Steele, The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. He got his start as a story editor on Hill Street Blues in 1986.
Kern is the latest of several showrunners to come under question since widespread testimonials of Harvey Weinstein's sexual misconduct and assault prompted a multi-industry push to cleanse out such behavior and anything similar. Investigations into sexual harassment claims made against The Royals showrunner Mark Schwahn and Supergirl and The Flash executive producer Andrew Kreizberg led to their dismissals.
