Viacom has fired Chris Savino (46), the creator of its hit animation kids series, The Loud House on Nickelodeon (DStv 305) over shocking sexual harassment claims a day after he was abruptly suspended.
The Loud House, seen in South Africa and across Africa on Viacom International Media Networks Africa's (VIMN Africa) kids channel, will continue production.
Nickelodeon in a statement says "Chris Savino is no longer working with Nickelodeon. We take allegations of misconduct very seriously, and we are committed to fostering a safe and professional workplace environment that is free of harassment or other kinds of inappropriate conduct."
"The Loud House, which is currently in its second season, will continue to air on Nickelodeon and be in production. Season three is scheduled to premiere in early 2018."
Besides the statement, Nickelodeon group president president Cyma Zarghami in an internal email to staffers told them that Viacom is encouraging anyone who has been the subject of or has witnessed "an uncomfortable situation at work" to speak out.
Cartoon Brew first broke the news about Chris Savino's suspension after more than a dozen women working at Nickelodeon came forward and accused him of alleged inappropriate behaviour - ranging from unwanted sexual advances, to threats of industry blacklisting after the end of consensual relationships with co-workers.
Some of the alleged sexual harassment dates back as far as a decade.
Chris Savino previously worked on cartoons for Turner Broadcasting System's Cartoon Network (DStv 301) like Rocko’s Modern Life, The Powerpuff Girls and Dexter’s Laboratory.
Anne Walker Farrell who is currently a director on Netflix’s Bojack Horseman animation series, on Twitter called Chris Savino "a predator and a liability. You would do well to dismiss him from his employment at Nickelodeon".
On Thursday over 200 women in the American animation industry - mostly artists based in Los Angeles - published an open letter demanding an end to sexual harassment in the animation industry.
It was sent to executives at the Los Angeles studios like Disney, Dreamworks, Warner Bros., Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Paramount, Sony Pictures Animation and several other major Hollywood studios.
"We are tired of relying on whisper networks to know who isn't safe to meet with alone. We want our supervisors to protect us from harassment and assault. This abuse has got to stop," they write in the letter.
In her email to staff, Nickelodeon group president president Cyma Zarghami writes "In the current climate, it feels necessary to say that if you should encounter an uncomfortable situation at work, or witness one, you are safe to speak up."
"If you hear something, and are unsure of what to do, you are safe to tell your supervisor or Human Resources. If you need help, in any way, you are safe to ask for it".
