Former TV host Charlie Rose reached a settlement with three women who accused him of “predatory behavior” and “blatant and repeated sexual harassment” — multiple outlets reported Wednesday.
Rose, now 82, was fired from CBS News and PBS in 2017 after multiple accusations of misconduct surfaced — leading to his professional downfall at the height of the #MeToo accountability movement.
The lawsuit has now been resolved, averting a trial that was set to begin in Manhattan on Monday. The terms of the settlement remain confidential.
In a joint statement, plaintiffs Katherine Brooks Harris, Sydney McNeal, and Yuqing Wei wrote: “On reflection, and after having the benefit of discovery, we realize that different people could interpret the conduct in different ways… We do not assign any bad motive or ill intent to Charlie Rose.”
The lawsuit had lingered in the courts since 2018, with contentious pretrial exchanges shedding light on the allegations. The plaintiffs—former employees of Rose’s programs—claimed he subjected them to repeated verbal and physical harassment, including inappropriate comments about their personal lives and appearances. Harris and McNeal alleged Rose said they were hired because he liked “tall women,” and Wei accused him of referring to her as a “China doll.”
Rose denied much of the behavior attributed to him.
In 2017, shortly before his firing, he acknowledged his actions in a public apology: “It is essential that these women know I hear them and 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.”
While CBS had settled with the plaintiffs in 2018, the claims against Rose himself persisted. His legal team had planned to contest the credibility of the women’s allegations, citing past statements where they reportedly downplayed or denied experiencing harassment.
Rose, who now hosts a YouTube interview series, has largely remained out of the public spotlight since his firing.
