Media

Charlie Rose attorneys says accusers attempting to exploit #MeToo movement

by Joe Concha - 09/07/18 2:48 PM ET

The legal team for former CBS and PBS host Charlie Rose say his accusers are attempting to build up “routine interactions” into allegations of sexual harassment, according to a motion filed in New York Supreme Court on Friday.

The motion comes four months after Rose was sued by three employees who all claim the “CBS This Morning” co-host made lewd remarks and touched them inappropriately while stating they faced retaliation at their jobs for raising the issues.

Rose’s attorneys filed the motion in an attempt to get their lawsuit dismissed. The motion argues the accusers are overstating the allegations in an attempt to capitalize on the #MeToo movement.

“The Complaint attempts to seize upon routine workplace interactions and banter and spin them into actionable conduct by omitting the context and tone and using suggestive language,” the motion reads.

The plaintiffs — Katherine Brooks Harris, Sydney McNeal, and Chelsea Wei — maintain Rose, 76, repeatedly made unwanted sexual advances towards them, with allegations including asking about their sex lives, inviting them to private dinners at his home, and engaging in inappropriate touching and unwanted kissing.

Harris and McNeal, who worked for Rose’s PBS program, said they were fired after accusing the host of sexual harassment in November 2017.

Rose’s lawyers dispute the claim, stating that everyone who worked on Rose’s show was let go when the show was taken off the air.

Wei, who works for CBS, claims that she was demoted after she came forward in revealing her interactions with Rose.

A total of eight women accused Rose of sexual misconduct in an original story by The Washington Post shortly before Thanksgiving in 2017.

Tags Charlie Rose