CBS Fires Charlie Rose After ‘Extremely Disturbing’ Allegations

Charlie Rose leaves the Celebration of Life Memorial ceremony for Walter Cronkite, Wed. Sept.. 9, 2009 at Avery Fisher Hall in New York. (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin)
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CBS News has terminated its contract with longtime reporter and anchor Charlie Rose after The Washington Post reported on eight women’s “extremely disturbing” allegations against him, said CBS News President David Rhodes.

Rhodes said he was “deeply disappointed and angry” and said the termination was “effective immediately.”

“Despite Charlie’s important journalistic contribution to our news division, there is absolutely nothing more important, in this or any organization, than ensuring a safe, professional workplace – a supportive environment where people feel they can do their best work. We need to be such a place,” Rhodes said. “I’ve often heard things used to be different. And no one may be able to correct the past. But what may once have been accepted should never have been acceptable.”

In order to maintain CBS News’ “credibility” reporting on “extraordinary revelations” at other media outlets, CBS needs to maintain credibility managing what should be “basic standards of behavior,” Rhodes said, which is why they acted so swiftly with Rose.

“I’m deeply disappointed and angry that people were victimized—and even people not connected with these events could see their hard work undermined,” he said. “If all of us commit to the best behavior and the best work – that is what we can be known for.”

Rose has been a co-host of “CBS This Morning” since the show’s inception and is also a contributing correspondent for “60 Minutes.”

The Post published a scathing report on Monday evening, detailing the allegations of eight women who claimed Rose made unwanted sexual advances toward them. According to the women, those advances included inappropriate phone calls, walking around naked in front of them and groping them. The alleged incidents spanned over two decades, started in the late 1990s, according to the Post.

Rose was suspended less than two hours after the Post published its piece and Rose later posted a statement on Twitter appoligizing for his “inappropriate behavior” and saying he didn’t think all the accusations were accurate. He said he thought he was “pursuing shared feelings” at the time.

On “CBS This Morning” Tuesday, Rose’s former co-hosts Norah O’Donnell and Gayle King were brutally honest about the disturbing nature of the allegations and their disappointment in Rose.

“This has to end. This behavior is wrong. Period,” O’Donnell said.

PBS also announced Tuesday it was terminating its relationship with Rose and cancelling distribution of his programs, according to New York Times reporter John Koblin.

PBS had already said Monday night that it would no longer distribute Rose’s nightly “Charlie Rose” show after the allegations surfaced, PBS News Hour reported.

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Notable Replies

  1. Evidence of morality: Private industry vs. the Alabama Republican Party.

    Fired or he is a pervert, but he will vote our way.

    Value voters, Indeed!

  2. Avatar for milt69 milt69 says:

    Wow, that was extremely fast. I believe another TPM poster mentioned CBS knew this was coming down. Strong clear message being sent, that’s for sure.

    Rhodes said. “I’ve often heard things used to be different. And no one may be able to correct the past. But what may once have been accepted should never have been acceptable.”

  3. Or more generally…

    Remember, the current resident in the Oval has faced NO consequences yet… :angry:

  4. Avatar for sooner sooner says:

    I’m waiting patiently for these charges to be made against the p%$$y grabber in chief. Will they be on his doorstep before or after Mueller?

    I’m disappointed in Franken and Rose, an in myself for far lesser past transgressions, However if this is intended as some sort of smoke screen being put up by the righties then at least these men fessed up to their conduct.

    Anyone wonder what the Precedents stance might be on his transgressions?

    It’s cooooooming…

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