Reason behind star's secret $13 million payout revealed

Eliza Dushku at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival. Photo / Supplied

An actress was paid $13 million by TV network CBS after alleging she was written off a top-rating TV show because she complained to the star about his inappropriate jokes.

According to The New York Times, Eliza Dushku was set to become a full-time cast member on Bull last year until she confronted the show's star, Michael Weatherly, about comments he had made to her on the set.

Weatherly, who appeared on NCIS for 13 seasons, allegedly made a rape joke to Dushku and joked about having a threesome with her in front of other cast and crew members, reports news.com.au.

After discussing the inappropriate comments with Bull's showrunner, Dushku then spoke to Weatherly about the incidents.

According to The New York Times, Weatherly later texted the president of CBS Television Studios about Dushku and a few days later she was told she would no longer be a full-time cast member.

Weatherly told The New York Times that he was sorry for the comments he made to the actress.

Eliza Dushku and Michael Weatherly in Bull. Photo / CBS

"During the course of taping our show, I made some jokes mocking some lines in the script," Weatherly said in a statement. "When Eliza told me that she wasn't comfortable with my language and attempt at humour, I was mortified to have offended her and immediately apologised.

"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."

But Weatherly was adamant he had nothing to do with Dushku being written off the show.

"It's my recollection that I didn't tell anyone how they should do their job regarding the hiring or firing of anybody," he told The New York Times.

After mediation with CBS, the TV network agreed to pay Ms Dushku $13 million in January this year.

Bull airs on Network Ten in Australia.