Hilarie Burton took to Twitter after NBC News fired Matt Lauer amid allegations of sexual assault to ask the company, which owns E!, why they have not fired The Royal’s showrunner Mark Schwahn, on Wednesday, November 29.
“It’s amazing to me that @nbc can fire Lauer, but Mark Schwahn — after over 40 women have come forward — is still on ‘suspension’ over at @e_entertainment,” Burton tweeted. “We just waiting for the whole thing to blow over? New day, new headline? Fire the predator. #BurnItDownSis.”
As previously reported, Burton, Sophia Bush, Bethany Joy Lenz and other female One Tree Hill cast and crew members accused the showrunner of sexual harassment in a letter published by Variety on November 13. E!, which is owned by NBC Universal, suspended Schwahn from The Royals on November 15.
“E!, Universal Cable Productions and Lionsgate Television take sexual harassment allegations very seriously, investigate them thoroughly and independently, and take appropriate action,” a statement from the studios to Us Weekly read. “Lionsgate has suspended Mark Schwahn from The Royals as we continue our investigation.”
The day after E! suspended Schwahn, female cast and crew members of E!’s The Royals also wrote a letter accusing Schwahn of sexual harassment.
The Lethal Weapon actress later detailed her alleged interactions with Schwahn throughout her six seasons playing Peyton Sawyer on One Tree Hill.
“I’m at the bar waiting to get drinks for the hairdresser and me, and he leans over and he kisses me in front of everybody,” Burton told Variety on November 17. “Right on the mouth. It was something I had to get out of. It wasn’t a peck. It wasn’t ‘Hey, sis, how’s your day?’ It was a boyfriend kiss.”
E! has not announced a premiere date for season 4 of The Royals, but the series has already wrapped filming its fourth season.
