Tavis Smiley and the Racist Target
b'Effective today, PBS has indefinitely suspended distribution of \\u2018Tavis Smiley,\\u2019 produced by TS Media, an independent production company,\\u201d the public broadcaster said. \\u201cPBS engaged an outside law firm to conduct an investigation immediately after learning of troubling allegations regarding Mr. Smiley. This investigation included interviews with witnesses as well as with Mr. Smiley. The inquiry uncovered multiple, credible allegations of conduct that is inconsistent with the values and standards of PBS, and the totality of this information led to today\\u2019s decision.\\u201d\\n\\nIf having a consensual relationship with a colleague years ago is the stuff that leads to this kind of public humiliation and personal destruction, heaven help us.\\xa0 Indeed, I learned more about these allegations reading the Variety story than the PBS investigator shared with me, the accused, in our 3 hour face to face meeting.My attorneys were sent a formal letter invoking a contractual provision to not distribute my programming, and that was it.Put simply, PBS overreacted and conducted a biased and sloppy investigation, which led to a rush to judgment, and trampling on a reputation that I have spent an entire lifetime trying to establish.This has gone too far. And, I, for one, intend to fight back.Tavis Smiley'