Charlie Rose suspended after 8 women accuse him of sexual assault

Charlie Rose, an award-winning American interviewer and TV host, has been suspended from his jobs at both CBS and PBS networks after admitting claims by eight women who accused him of years of sexual harassment and unwanted advances.

The two networks made decision on Monday after a bombshell report by The Washington Post, which alleged that Rose had harassed female employees or women who wanted to work on his shows from the 1990s to as recently as 2011.

The victims, who were between 21 and 37 years old at the time of the encounters, said the unwanted advances included vulgar phone calls, groping and walking naked in front of them, according to the Post.

"PBS was shocked to learn today of these deeply disturbing allegations. We are immediately suspending distribution of 'Charlie Rose,'" read a statement by PBS on Monday, the platform that has aired Rose’s eponymous show since 1991.

The public broadcaster tried to further distance itself from the fiasco by reminding its audience that the Charlie Rose Show is produced by an independent company and the network only distributes it.

"Charlie Rose is suspended immediately while we look into this matter. These allegations are extremely disturbing and we take them very seriously," CBS News said in another statement.

Rose co-hosts "CBS This Morning" and is a contributing correspondent for "60 Minutes," two of the CBS News’ more popular shows.

‘Greatly embarrassed’

Rose responded to the accusations on Twitter, giving apologies about his “inappropriate behavior.” The veteran broadcaster, however, did not accept all of the claims.

"I deeply apologize for my inappropriate behavior. I am greatly embarrassed," he wrote. “I have behaved insensitively at times, and I accept responsibility for that, though I do not believe that all of these allegations are accurate.”

PressTV-4 more women accuse Republican of sex abuse

Republican politician Roy Moore is faced with new sexual assault accusations from nine women.

The report makes the 75-year-old journalist the latest star accused of sexual misconduct in a series of high-profile scandals that have so far engulfed big names such as Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, renowned actor Kevin Spacey and politicians like Republican Senate hopeful Roy Moore and Democratic Senator Al Franken.

Meanwhile, well-known TV and radio host Larry King, who had previously led an eponymous show on CNN and is now employed by Russia's RT America, said the scandal was "terrible."

"There's no excuse for it. What was playful maybe years ago is no longer playful," he told AFP. "It keeps coming to light. Something's got to change."

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