Charlie Rose Suspended by CBS, PBS and Bloomberg Amid Sexual Misconduct Claims

The Washington Post spoke to eight former employees of Rose's show about his conduct.

In response to a Washington Post report detailing multiple accusations of inappropriate conduct, PBS and Bloomberg on Monday afternoon announced that both companies will stop distributing Charlie Rose's eponymous show, Charlie Rose. The nightly show is produced by Rose's company, Charlie Rose Inc.

Separately, CBS announced that Rose is suspended from his role as CBS This Morning co-host. Rose is also a contributing correspondent for 60 Minutes. "Charlie Rose is suspended immediately while we look into this matter," the network said. "These allegations are extremely disturbing and we take them very seriously." (The story was covered on Monday's CBS Evening News by correspondent Jim Axelrod.)

The Washington Post spoke to eight women for the story about Rose, which focuses on his treatment of Charlie Rose employees between the late 1990s and 2011. None of the women worked for CBS or PBS, according to the report, and PBS, CBS and Bloomberg all told the newspaper that "they have no records of sexual harassment complaints about Charlie Rose."

"PBS was shocked to learn today of these deeply disturbing allegations," the organization in a statement. "We are immediately suspending distribution of 'Charlie Rose.' ... PBS does not fund this nightly program or supervise its production, but we expect our producers to provide a workplace where people feel safe and are treated with dignity and respect. "

In a statement, Bloomberg said: "We are deeply disturbed to learn of these allegations and are immediately suspending the show from airing on Bloomberg TV."

"Most of the women said Rose alternated between fury and flattery in his interactions with them," the Washington Post reported. "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."

Rose addressed the allegations in a statement to the Washington Post and to reporters following publication. He said: "In my 45 years in journalism, I have prided myself on being an advocate for the careers of the women with whom I have worked. Nevertheless, in the past few days, claims have been made about my behavior toward some former female colleagues.

“It is essential that these women know I hear them and that I deeply apologize for my inappropriate behavior. I am greatly embarrassed. I have 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 realize I was mistaken.

“I have learned a great deal as a result of these events, and I hope others will too. All of us, including me, are coming to a newer and deeper recognition of the pain caused by conduct in the past, and have come to a profound new respect for women and their lives.”

The news about Rose likely broke too late to be joked about in the late-night hosts' monologues on Monday but CBS' Stephen Colbert found a way to quickly take on Rose during his first few remarks on Monday's Late Show.

Colbert began by joking about the Weather Channel's live shot of the Georgia Dome being obstructed by a bus that pulled in front of the camera, airing some of the footage, including a cameraman cursing at the vehicle and telling it to move.

"This will ruin the Weather Channel's reputation as the premier place to watch buildings explode," Colbert joked before musing, "Can a bus drive in front of 2017 for a while? Or maybe just park it in front of Charlie Rose?"

Hilary Lewis contributed to this report.

Nov. 21, 8:10 a.m. This story has been updated with Colbert's Charlie Rose joke.