Bob Collins[Update: CBS has fired Rose]
“CBS This Morning” didn’t shy away from the story of one of its star broadcasters, now accused of sexual harassment.
At the beginning of its broadcast this morning, CBS devoted nine minutes of airtime to the story of Charlie Rose, who has now been suspended by the network.
Norah O’Donnell, one of the three co-anchors on the broadcast, said there is no excuse for Rose.
“This is a moment that demands a frank and honest assessment about where we stand and more generally the safety of women. Let me be very clear. There is no excuse for this alleged behavior. It is systematic and pervasive and I've been doing a lot of listening." — @NorahODonnell pic.twitter.com/9P69QN7spu
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) November 21, 2017
Co-anchor Gayle King said she is not giving Rose a pass.
“I really am reeling. I got 1 hour & 42 minutes of sleep last night, both my son and my daughter called me. Oprah called me and said, are you okay? I am not okay. After reading that article in the Post, it was deeply disturbing, troubling and painful for me to read.” – @GayleKing pic.twitter.com/EQoEBHFkUr
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) November 21, 2017
I really am still reeling. I got an hour and 42 minutes of sleep last night, both my son and my daughter called me. Oprah called me and said, ‘are you okay?’ I am not okay. After reading that article in the Post, it was deeply disturbing, troubling and painful for me to read.
That said, I think we have to make this matter to women. The women that have spoken up, the women who have not spoken up because they’re afraid. I am hoping now they will take the step to speak up too. This becomes a moment of truth.
I’ve enjoyed a friendship and a partnership with Charlie for the past five years. I’ve held him in such high regard and I’m really struggling because how do you — what do you say when someone that you deeply care about has done something that is so horrible? How do you wrap your brain around that? I’m really grappling with that.
Charlie does not get a pass here. He doesn’t get a pass from anyone in this room. We are all deeply affected.
The show devoted much of its first hour to the issue of sexual harassment.
Related sexual harassment: Al Franken and the politics of sexual harassment (Boston Globe)
