A former MSNBC assistant producer reportedly received a settlement of $40,000 after filing a complaint against Hardball host Chris Matthews claiming sexual harassment and inappropriate comments.
The woman said Matthews, now 71, had at the time made offensive jokes both to her and about her to others. She brought the incident to the attention of CNBC executives after being subject to Matthew’s “jokes” in the presence of a group.
A settlement was reached and a smaller, unspecified severance pay was delivered to the woman at the time of the event, MSNBC spokesperson told reporters, while Matthews was formally reprimanded. The company stated that, though the comments were “inappropriate and juvenile” there were no propositions made.
MSNBC refused to divulge whether the victim’s severance compensation was related the incident or whether this was the only claim lodged against Matthews.
The woman has since moved her way through numerous high-profile media roles, according to reports. While Matthews has continued to host the investigative talk show, Hardball, for the last 20 years with the addition of 2002’s “Chris Matthews Show”, as well as authored numerous books and autobiographies.
This would not be the first time Matthew’s off-color comments have made the front page. His sexually derogatory commentary regarding First Lady Melania Trump during US President Donald Trump’s 2016 victory campaign in Indiana attracted widespread criticism earlier this year.
Matthews is one of a number of media personalities to be accused of sexual misconduct in recent months including NBC’s ‘Today Show Host’ Matt Lauer, ‘Game Change’ author and ABC director Mark Halperin, PBS host Tavis Smiley, Former Fox News anchor Bill O’ Reilly, and CBS morning show host Charlie Rose.
