CBS takes host Charlie Rose off air

Star suspended after sexual harassment claims by eight women

NEW YORK: Charlie Rose (pic) is the latest public figure to be felled by sexual misconduct allegations, with PBS halting distribution of his nightly interview show and CBS News suspending him following a Washington Post report with the accusations of eight women.

The women, who all worked for Rose or tried to work for him, accused the veteran newsman of groping them, walking naked in front of them and telling one that he dreamed about her swimming nude, the Post reported on Monday.

Rose, 75, said in a statement that he was “deeply embarrassed” and apologised for his behaviour.

It is unclear how CBS This Morning will address Rose’s suspension soon. Rose has co-hosted the critically-acclaimed morning news programme with Gayle King and Norah O’Donnell.

It has been gaining the past few years on its better-known rivals. Rose also conducts interviews for 60 Minutes.

Three women went on the record in the Post’s deeply-reported story. Reah Bravo, a former associate producer for Rose’s PBS show who began working for him in 2007, told the newspaper: “He was a sexual predator, and I was his victim.”

She said Rose groped her on multiple occasions and once, during a business trip to Indiana, called her to his hotel room where he emerged from a shower naked.

Kyle Godfrey-Ryan, one of Rose’s former assistants, was 21 when she said Rose repeatedly called her to describe his fantasies of her swimming naked at the pool at his Long Island home while he watched from his bedroom. She said she was fired when Rose learned she had spoken to a mutual friend about his behaviour. Megan Creydt, who worked as a coordinator on Rose’s PBS show in 2005 and 2006, told the newspaper that she was sitting in the passenger seat as Rose drove in Manhattan one day when he put his hand on her thigh. Five women interviewed by the Post described similar grabs to their legs in what many interpreted as an attempt to see their reactions.

Rose said that he has behaved insensitively at times “and I accept responsibility for that, though I do not believe that all of these allegations are accurate. I always felt that I was pursuing shared feelings, even though I now realise I was mistaken. I have learned a great deal as a result of these events, and I hope others will, too.”

Rose’s interview show is seen in 94% of the country on PBS stations.

It is rebroadcast on Bloomberg’s cable network, which also announced on Monday it was suspending the show.

“PBS was shocked to learn today of these deeply disturbing allegations,” the public broadcasting service said in a statement.

“We are immediately suspending distribution of Charlie Rose.” — AP