A legal battle spanning six years between one of television's most prominent figures and his former employees has reached its conclusion.
According to the New York Post, Charlie Rose has settled a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by three former CBS employees who had accused the veteran broadcaster of inappropriate behavior during their time at the network.
Katherine Brooks Harris, Sydney McNeal, and Yuqing "Chelsea" Wei initially filed the lawsuit in the New York Supreme Court in 2018.
The women alleged that Rose engaged in unwanted physical contact, including kissing and touching, while also making inappropriate comments during their employment at CBS. The settlement was reached just before jury selection was scheduled to begin on Monday.
Court documents unveiled complex aspects of the case, including statements that appeared to contradict some allegations. Wei had previously told CBS News HR officials that she experienced no sexually inappropriate behavior from Rose, though she reported verbal abuse. Similarly, Harris sent an email to Rose after his termination seeking career advice, describing their interactions as "professional and respectful."
The three women worked at "CBS This Morning" while Rose served as co-anchor. Their complaint detailed allegations of Rose making inappropriate sexual comments and physical contact, including caressing their arms, shoulders, waist, and back. The lawsuit also claimed Rose would pull them close to his body and kiss them on the cheek.
The women further alleged that Rose shared details about his sexual conquests with McNeal and Harris and requested information about their personal lives. Court records showed that McNeal's psychiatrist stated she had "zero experience" of sexual harassment from Rose.
The three former employees released a joint statement that was signed on Sunday, expressing a more nuanced perspective on the situation. In their statement to the court, they acknowledged that different interpretations of behavior were possible:
Through the process of years of litigation, the parties have come to better understand each others' points of view. On reflection, and after having the benefit of discovery, we realize that different people could interpret the conduct in different ways, and therefore we have resolved the claims.
The settlement marked a significant moment in Rose's career trajectory, which saw a dramatic shift in late 2017 when both CBS News fired him and PBS dropped his popular talk show. These actions followed a Washington Post report featuring allegations from eight women who claimed Rose had sexually harassed them over two decades.
The case resolution comes after CBS News previously settled with the three women in December 2018. The latest settlement was reached "with prejudice and without costs to any party," though specific terms remained confidential.
The impact on Rose's career has been substantial since the allegations first surfaced. The veteran broadcaster, who once commanded respect across the television industry, saw his professional life fundamentally altered after the Washington Post published additional accusations from 27 more women in May 2018.
This settlement marks the conclusion of one of the most prominent cases to emerge during a period of heightened awareness regarding workplace harassment in the media industry.
Charlie Rose, once a leading figure in broadcast journalism, faced serious allegations from three former CBS employees that ultimately led to an out-of-court resolution, bringing closure to a complex legal battle that spanned more than half a decade. The case highlighted the evolving understanding of workplace interactions and the importance of clear professional boundaries in media organizations.
