UPDATE: CBS and PBS have suspended Charlie Rose. (See below.)
CBS and PBS host Charlie Rose has been accused by eight women of sexual harassment, including groping and walking around naked in front of female colleagues. This is the same CBS This Morning journalist who offered to spank his co-host, Norah O’Donnell. On April 21, 2016, after showing video of lemurs playing with each other, Rose blurted, “It’s either that or [the lemur’s] spanking himself.”
O’Donnell playfully slapped her own butt and an excited Rose volunteered, “Oh, I’ll do that!”
Whether or not that particular exchange was an indicator of the real Rose, the accusations against the CBS and PBS co-host are very serious. Post journalists Irin Carmon and Amy Brittain explained:
Eight women have told The Washington Post that longtime television host Charlie Rose made unwanted sexual advances toward them, including lewd phone calls, walking around naked in their presence, or groping their breasts, buttocks or genital areas.
...
Five described Rose putting his hand on their legs, sometimes their upper thigh, in what they perceived as a test to gauge their reactions. Two said that while they were working for Rose at his residences or were traveling with him on business, he emerged from the shower and walked naked in front of them. One said he groped her buttocks at a staff party.
There were other indicators that Rose might not take the subject seriously. On October 19, 2017, after a story on “pervasive sexual harassment,” CBS This Morning hyped a picture of Rose beaming with none other than Bill Clinton.
UPDATE: CBS and PBS have suspended Rose.
