Julie Chen Confirms She’s Leaving ‘The Talk’ With Tearful Video: ‘I Need To Spend More Time At Home’

TV star Julie Chen is leaving The Talk following her husband Les Moonves’ decision to resign from CBS over sexual misconduct allegations. On Tuesday, Sept. 18, the 48-year-old appeared on the talk show in a pre-recorded video to confirm her exit from the popular daytime program. 

“I have been at The Talk since the day it started nine years ago, and 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,” Julie began. 

“I want to thank everyone at the show for our wonderful years together. I will always, always cherish the memories we shared. Most important, I want to thank you, the viewers, for allowing me into your home every day. It was a privilege that I will forever be grateful for. To everyone behind the scenes… I send you my love. I will miss you all very, very much,” Julie said as she started crying. 

Watch Julie’s tearful video confirming her The Talk departure below!

Farewell ❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/1eOCpelor1

— Julie Chen Moonves (@JCMoonves) September 18, 2018

Rumors of Julie’s exit from The Talk first made headlines on Monday, Sept. 17. “She is definitely leaving The Talk and will 100 percent stay with Les,” an insider told Page Six. “When she’ll depart the show is unclear. It could be this week, or she could do it after Big Brother [ends on Sept. 26] but she will be leaving. I wouldn’t be surprised if [CBS] asked her not to come back.”

Julie has been taking some time off of The Talk to be with her family after her husband, Les, 68, left his job as CEO of CBS on Sept. 9. The couple married in 2004 and have an eight-year-old son named Charlie Moonves together. 

Julie with ‘The Talk’ cast. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

During Julie’s absence from the show, her The Talk co-host Sharon Osbourne candidly spoke out about the sexual misconduct allegations against Les. “These stories that are so similar, the pattern is so similar that, for me, he’s not been convicted of any crime, but obviously the man has a problem,” Sharon said on-air. 

When The New Yorker first reported the troubling allegations against Les back in July, Julie released a public statement about her husband. “Leslie is a good man and a loving father, devoted husband, and inspiring corporate leader. He has always been a kind, decent, and moral human being. I fully support my husband and stand behind him,” she said at the time. 

Julie and Les. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

During a recent episode of Big Brother — which Julie has hosted since the show’s 2000 debut — the host signed off the show as “Julie Chen Moonves,” and publicly took her husband’s last name for the first time on both the series and CBS network. We’ll miss you on The Talk, Julie!