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Neil deGrasse Tyson’s show pulled from the air as sexual misconduct probe continues

"StarTalk" talk show on hold amid the astrophysicist's #MeToo reckoning.

American astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson is facing multiple sexual misconduct accusations. (Credit: Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Onward18)
American astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson is facing multiple sexual misconduct accusations. (Credit: Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Onward18)

National Geographic Channel has pulled Neil deGrasse Tyson’s pop culture and science talk show, StarTalk, from the air while Fox Networks Group investigates multiple claims of sexual misconduct against the celebrity astrophysicist.

At the end of November, two women came forward to accuse Tyson of sexual misconduct. One woman, a physics and astronomy professor who knew Tyson through professional circles, said he groped her at a party in 2009. The other, a former assistant of Tyson’s, said he propositioned her for sex and told her she was too “distracting” to advance in her career.

The accusations weren’t the first against Tyson, however. Following several blog posts over the years, a woman named Tchiya Amet, spoke out again in 2017 about how Tyson drugged and raped her when they were both grad students in 1984.

Following the latest accusations, Fox and National Geographic swiftly announced they would begin an investigation.

A National Geographic representative told Variety this week that “in order to allow the investigation to occur unimpeded we chose to hold new episodes of ‘Star Talk’ until it is complete. We expect that to happen in the next few weeks at which time we’ll make a final decision.”

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StarTalk had returned in November for its fifth season, and had only aired three episodes out of 20, when the newest allegations emerged against Tyson.

Meanwhile, the latest season of his famed Cosmos: Possible Worlds show is set to premier on March 3. Tyson narrates the series and appears on-camera throughout the show, making it nearly impossible to replace him at this point,  Variety reports.

Tyson has said he welcomes the investigation. He has accused one of his accusers of having a “false memory.”

The astronomer has canceled several talks planned for this month in Orlando, Jacksonville, and Boca Raton, Florida.