Gayle King Says She Is “Sick Of Covering” Charlie Rose Allegations After New Report
May 3, 2018
Gayle King Says She Is “Sick Of Covering” Charlie Rose Allegations After New Report
CBS This Morning co-host Gayle King feels sick to her stomach that so many more women have come forward with sexual harassment allegations about Charlie Rose, in a new Washington Post report about her former co-host.
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“I have a very bad case of deja vu, I have to say,” King told viewers today, adding, “I feel sick to my stomach. I don’t know what to say about this.”
Turns out she did.
She said she’s sick of covering it, for instance. She said she still considers Rose a friend because she does not believe in “abandoning friends when they’re down.” But, she conceded, “you can’t discount what these women are saying” [WATCH below].
Early Thursday morning, Washington Post reported an additional 27 women, including 14 CBS News employees, said Rose sexually harassed them. More than 100 current and former CBS News employees were interviewed for the WaPo story, which claims Rose’s behavior had been flagged to CBS execs as early as 1986 and as recently as April 2017.
CBS News fired Rose last November, as did PBS, when WaPo first reported multiple credible allegations of sexual harassment against Rose, who also produced an interview program for public broadcasting.
“When the story first broke I said Charlie was my friend, and I still consider him a friend. I know that’s really not the politically correct thing to say at this moment,” King said this morning on her program. “But I don’t’ believe in abandoning friends when they’re down. That said, this is very troubling, very disturbing. And you can’t discount what these woman are saying.”
King wanted viewers to know she also knows the CBS execs who are mentioned in the Washington Post report as allegedly having had some knowledge of Rose’s behavior, adding “I have great respect for them.”
“I don’t know what more we can do to Charlie Rose, except a public flogging,” King said melodramatically. “He’s gone. He is not coming back to CBS News,” she said, noting John Dickerson has replaced Rose on the program she co-hosts with Norah O’Donnell and “all we can do is continue to do the best possible job we can.”
“I’m sick of handling it; I just want us to move forward,” King said, leaving us wondering how Rose’s alleged victims felt watching her.
“You can’t ignore what these women are saying. That’s also part of my anguish here,” King added, in the nick of time.
But, she also said, she thought it was “good we’re having this conversation again.”
“And we will cover it…we’re not running away from it.”
King’s co-hosts did not appear on CBS This Morning on Thursday; Norah O’Donnell, however, issued a statement via Twitter:
What I’ve said previously still stands true, and bears repeating now: women will only achieve equality in the workplace and society when there is a full reckoning and behaviors change. There is no excuse for the alleged actions of my former co-host.
— Norah O'Donnell🇺🇸 (@NorahODonnell) May 3, 2018
I’m hopeful that we’re nearing a day when having to point out that fact is coming to an end. That being said, I hope we can move forward. I am incredibly proud to work at @CBSNews, alongside some of the most talented and tireless professionals in our business.
— Norah O'Donnell🇺🇸 (@NorahODonnell) May 3, 2018
The entire team at @CBSThisMorning works so hard every day and the spotlight belongs on the incredible journalism they produce. I am fortunate to have them as colleagues and co-host with Gayle and John to produce what I believe is the smartest show on television.
— Norah O'Donnell🇺🇸 (@NorahODonnell) May 3, 2018
Watch Gayle King’s on-air remarks here:
"I have a very bad case of deja vu, I have to say. I feel sick to my stomach. I don't know what to say about this." —
@GayleKing pic.twitter.com/8lTeE7v0bE— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) May 3, 2018