Longtime journalist Charlie Rose is the latest high-profile person to be accused of sexual harassment. So far, eight women who were employees of Rose or those hoping to work with him have come forward.
According to the women, now-75-year-old Rose made unwanted sexual advances towards them that included lewd phone calls, exposing himself, and groping the breasts, buttocks / genitals of his accusers. All of the alleged incidents happened from the late 1990s through 2011.
Rose is the host of the "Charlie Rose" show on PBS, an acting co-host of "CBS This Morning" and a correspondent for "60 Minutes". Right after "The Washington Post" broke the story, PBS and Bloomberg LP (which broadcasts Rose’s self-titled program) suspended distribution of the “Charlie Rose” show. CBS also announced that it was suspending Rose immediately and indefinitely.
In a statement, Rose apologized for his “inappropriate behavior,” adding he does not believe “all of these allegations are accurate." “In my 45 years in journalism, I have prided myself on being an advocate for the careers of the women with whom I have worked,” Rose added. “Nevertheless...claims have been made about my behavior toward some former female colleagues."
He goes on to say that he may have misinterpreted signals. “It is essential that these women know I hear them and that I deeply apologize for my inappropriate behavior," Rose notes. "I always felt that I was pursuing shared feelings, even though I now realize I was mistaken."