Former TV host Charlie Rose has settled a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by three women In the wake of his #MeToo-era ouster from CBS News in 2017 and the cancellation of his long-running, eponymous PBS talk show.
In the settlement, the plaintiffs stated that they had expressed no “bad intentions” toward Rose and that they now realize that his conduct was explainable.
Lawyers for Rose and the women — youth workers who accused him of “predatory behavior” and “blatant and repeated sexual harassment” — filed papers with the court this week confirming the lawsuit has been resolved. An online court listed the case as settled. Terms were not disclosed.
The trial was scheduled for Monday in Manhattan after years of debate over the women's allegations and rejection of their claims of retaliation against Rose.
Plaintiffs Katherine Brooks Harris, Sidney McNeil and Yuqing Wei said in a statement that the litigation process and required pre-trial exchange of evidence, known as discovery, has allowed both sides to “better understand each other's perspective.” “Enabled.
“Upon reflection, and having the benefit of discovery, we realize that different people may interpret the conduct in different ways, and so we have resolved the claims,” the women said. “We do not attribute any evil motive or bad intentions to Charlie Rose.”
Rose, 82, and his production company, Charlie Rose Inc. A lawyer declined to comment.
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The veteran TV host has apologized for his behavior in the past, including a statement on the eve of his November 2017 firing. at least eight women Came forward to accuse him of misbehavior.
Rose said, “It is important that these women know that I hear them and that I deeply apologize for my inappropriate behavior.” “I am deeply ashamed. I have sometimes behaved insensitively, and I accept responsibility for it, although I do not believe that all of these allegations are true. I always felt that I was chasing shared feelings, however Now I realize I was doing it wrong.”
Rose's downfall was part of America's #MeToo campaign over sexual misconduct by powerful figures — a social media-inspired movement that also ousted the “Today” host matt lauer and film mogul harvey weinsteinamong others. In September 2018, Rose said that the three women with whom he settled this week were “taking advantage of the #MeToo movement”. motion to dismiss case,
Rose now hosts an interview show on YouTube where his recent guests have included author Michael Lewis and broadcaster Bob Costas.
Harris, McNeil and Wei sued Rose and CBS in New York state court about six months later in May 2018 CBS fired him from his anchor post. of its morning show, then called “CBS This Morning”, and PBS and Bloomberg Television dropped its nightly “Charlie Rose Show”, which had been airing since 1991.
Harris was a broadcast associate at “CBS This Morning” and later worked as an associate producer for Rose's PBS show. McNeil was Rose's executive assistant. Wei was a news affiliate and later anchor assistant for Rose at “CBS This Morning.”
The women, all in their 20s when they were hired, accused Rose, who was much older than them, of repeated physical and verbal sexual harassment at work, including inquiring about their sex lives. And also included boasting about oneself. Harris and McNeil alleged that Rose said he “was hired because he liked 'tall women,' that is, he was attracted to them,” and Wei alleged that Rose called them “China dolls.” Was. The three women also accused CBS of willfully failing to stop Rose's harassment.
cbs Settled in December 2018 For an undisclosed amount. The network said at the time that the women had requested that the terms be kept confidential.
If the suit were to go to trial, Rose's attorney said in court papers that he would challenge the credibility of Harris, McNeil and Wei's claims with evidence showing they previously knew little or no about the ex-anchor. No concerns were expressed.
Attorney Jonathan Bach wrote in a November 13 filing that the evidence included documents showing that Wei told a CBS human resources executive that she did not experience anything “sexually inappropriate” while working for Rose. It happened and McNeil talked to his doctor at the time about it. Rose had no personal experience of sexual harassment.
Other evidence cited by Bach shows that Harris told her therapist that any harassment by Rose was “very subtle” and that she wrote to him two months after working for Rose that her interactions with him ” Was always professional and respectful.”