Sadly, the dominant trend of sexual harassment at the work place got further evidence yesterday.
CBS News president said that veteran anchor Charlie Rose had been fired from the CBS Corp. unit after allegations that he had harassed former female employees at his production company.
This quick and sudden action raises serious questions about the future of the network’s A.M. news show, “CBS This Morning.”
“A short time ago we terminated Charlie Rose’s employment with CBS News, effective immediately. This followed the revelation yesterday of extremely disturbing and intolerable behavior said to have revolved around his PBS program,” said CBS News President David Rhodes in a memo to staffers issued Tuesday.
“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,” Rhodes said. “We need to be such a place.”
The Washington Post reported the accounts of 8 women who said Rose had harassed them. Some of the women worked as junior-level producers for his PBS program, “Charlie Rose.”
Some of the accounts are lurid, alleging Rose would travel with some of the women or invite them to work at his house, and then try to lure them to see him while he showered or otherwise approach them in a sexual manner.
The accusations make Rose the latest in a series of prominent figures in media, entertainment and politics to be accused of trying to use his role to strike up sexual relationships with women in subordinate positions.