‘CBS This Morning’ co-host on Rose allegations: ‘You still have to report the news’

“CBS This Morning” co-host Gayle King said Tuesday night that the accusations of sexual harassment against former colleague Charlie Rose are “still very painful,” but added the network nonetheless had to report on them.

“To be honest with you, it still isn’t easy. It’s still very painful, it’s still very hurtful,” King said on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”

“Charlie and I, we’ve worked together, been friends. But when you think about the anguish of those women, despite the friendship you still have to report the news.”

{mosads}

CBS News and PBS fired Rose on Tuesday after eight women accused the veteran journalist of sexual misconduct.

The Washington Post reported Monday that Rose allegedly made unwanted sexual advances, including walking naked in front of female employees and groping women’s breasts or genital areas.

Colbert booked King for an interview weeks ago, and they were to discuss “Oprah’s Favorite Things” for the holiday season, King said. King is close friends with Oprah Winfrey. 

“I came this close to canceling” in the wake of the allegations, King told Colbert.

“That’s why I wanted to cancel, because I didn’t want to be sitting here talking about this, but when you think about the job we do at CBS and how hard the people work, I want to know we are a top notch broadcast operation, and that’s why I thought it was important to be here,” she added.

King’s fellow co-host, Norah O’Donnell, said earlier Tuesday that there is “no excuse” for Rose’s alleged behavior.