Charlie Rose Settles Sexual Harassment Lawsuit with Former CBS Employees

In a significant turn of events, ex-CBS host Charlie Rose has arrived at a settlement with three women who previously worked for CBS and filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him in 2018.

Allegations

The three women, namely Katherine Brooks Harris, Chelsea Wei, and Sydney McNeal, claimed that Rose made unwanted sexual advances towards them, which included touching their thighs, kissing them on the cheeks, and making numerous inappropriate sexual comments.

Impact on Rose’s Career

Rose was terminated from his role as a co-host of “CBS This Morning” in November 2017, coinciding with the height of the #MeToo movement. This happened after the Washington Post reported that eight women had accused him of harassment. In addition to losing his job at CBS, his popular interview show, “Charlie Rose,” which was produced by his own company, was also canceled by Bloomberg TV and PBS.

Rose’s Apology

After the allegations, Rose publicly apologized for his “inappropriate behavior,” admitting that he had acted “insensitively.”

Further Developments

In May 2018, the Washington Post published a follow-up report, which cited 27 complaints against Rose that dated back to the 1980s. The aforementioned three plaintiffs were also included in this report, and they filed their lawsuit shortly afterward.

The case against Rose has been pending in the New York Supreme Court for over six years, even though the plaintiffs settled with CBS in December 2018. A judge dismissed a retaliation claim in 2019, stating there was no evidence that the women were targeted for retaliatory treatment when they were laid off after Rose’s show was canceled. However, the judge allowed the sexual discrimination claim to proceed.

Rose’s legal team recently dismissed the allegations as “low-level office interactions” in a court filing. They argued that the plaintiffs had filed their lawsuit under New York City’s gender discrimination law because they couldn’t meet the “severe and pervasive” sexual harassment standards under state or federal law.

The case was dropped on Sunday after both parties filed a joint stipulation. The judge issued notices on Tuesday that all pending motions would be withdrawn. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

Despite the legal battles, Rose, who is now 82, has been active online, posting new interviews conducted over Zoom on his website and YouTube since 2022. His recent interviews include conversations with Bob Costas and Michael Lewis.

In addition to the settled case, Rose’s former makeup artist, Gina Riggi, filed a lawsuit against him in September 2019. That case is still pending.

FAQs

Who is Charlie Rose?

Charlie Rose is an American television journalist and former talk show host. He is known for his interview show “Charlie Rose,” which was broadcasted on PBS and Bloomberg TV.

Why was Charlie Rose fired from CBS?

Charlie Rose was fired from CBS in 2017 following allegations of sexual harassment by several women.

What were the allegations against Charlie Rose?

The allegations against Charlie Rose included unwanted sexual advances, touching, kissing, and inappropriate sexual comments.

What is the current status of Charlie Rose?

Charlie Rose is currently active online, conducting interviews over Zoom and posting them on his website and YouTube channel.

Credit: variety.com