'Bull': Why Michael Weatherly and the Show Is Returning for Season 4 After Misconduct Allegations

The future of Bull seemed uncertain after it came to light that Eliza Dushku got a settlement after star, Michael Weatherly reportedly made inappropriate comments to her.

It has been decided that there will be a Season 4 and Weatherly is staying on the show, but why? Here is everything you need to know.

CBS reportedly paid Eliza Dushku $9.5 Million to settle harassment claims against Michael Weatherly

It previously was reported that the network settled with Eliza Dushku who played J.P. Nunnelly in three episodes of the show. There were plans for her to become a full-time cast member but that didn’t happen.

According to the New York Times, Weatherly made comments about her appearance in front of the crew and cast which made her uncomfortable. He reportedly made a rape joke and made a comment about a threesome. Dusku reportedly confronted him about this and was written off the show.

The actress reportedly believed this was retaliation and went into mediation with CBS which resulted in a $9.5 million settlement. The report claims this is what she would have earned if she stayed as a cast member for four seasons.

Weatherly also gave a statement in the report. “During the course of taping our show, I made some jokes mocking some lines in the script,” read the statement. “When Eliza told me that she wasn’t comfortable with my language and attempt at humor, I was mortified to have offended her and immediately apologized. After reflecting on this further, I better understand that what I said was both not funny and not appropriate and I am sorry and regret the pain this caused Eliza.”

Dushku wrote an open letter after the report

Dushku opened up about the situation in an open letter after the report because Weatherly and writer-producer Glenn Gordon Caron gave a statement about the situation. She claimed Weatherly said they have a different sense of humor after she confronted him about his comments.

“In explaining his bad behavior, Weatherly, who plays Dr. Bull, claimed I didn’t get his attempt at humor. That’s how a perpetrator rationalizes when he is caught,” she wrote.

The letter later reads, “I do not want to hear that I have a ‘humor deficit’ or can’t take a joke. I did not overreact. I took a job and, because I did not want to be harassed, I was fired.”

CBS’ entertainment chief claimed Weatherly was apologetic

Bull recently made it into the news because Steven Spielberg’s company, Amblin Television pulled out of the show. A rep gave a statement to Deadline about the decision.

“Steven Spielberg, Amblin Television, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey are no longer attached to ‘Bull,’” said the rep. Dushku previously revealed that she has talked to Spielberg about the Time’s Up organization.

“We sat and brainstormed and discussed possible solutions for this systemic imbalance of power, the abuse and harassment that we’ve been seeing and hearing and experiencing and both in our industry and beyond,” she told Deadline.

The show will still be moving forward. The network is standing with its leading man and revealed why. CBS’ entertainment chief, Kelly Kahl gave a statement about the decision.

“Michael made a mistake in his comments [to Dushku]. He owned that mistake. He was apologetic at the time, and he was remorseful,” Kahl said according to Us Weekly. “He was willing to take any kind of coaching or training we deem necessary for him to create a positive environment on the set.”

She said the actor “took everything very seriously and wants to move forward” and “wants to make it better.”

Kahl also claimed that there will be new processes to improve the work environment on all sets and shows, according to TV Line.

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