PBS, CBS suspend Charlie Rose

CBS News and PBS each announced Monday that host Charlie Rose has been suspended while both networks investigate allegations by eight women who accused him of sexual misconduct.

“PBS was shocked to learn today of these deeply disturbing allegations. We are immediately suspending distribution of ‘Charlie Rose,'” a PBS spokesman said in a statement following The Washington Post’s report.

“’Charlie Rose’ is produced by Charlie Rose, Inc., an independent television production company. PBS does not fund this nightly program or supervise its production, but we expect our producers to provide a workplace where people feel safe and are treated with dignity and respect,” the spokesperson added.

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CBS also released a statement announcing Rose’s immediate suspension from the network, where the 75-year-old is the host of “CBS This Morning” on weekdays.

“Charlie Rose is suspended immediately while we look into this matter,” a CBS spokesperson said in a statement.

Rose is facing accusations of making unwanted sexual advances to women, including walking around naked in front of employees, lewd phone calls and groping, according to the report.

The women’s allegations range from the late 1990s to as recently as 2011.

Rose acknowledged Monday that he had “behaved insensitively at times” and is “greatly embarrassed.”

“It is essential that these women know I hear them and that I deeply apologize for my inappropriate behavior. I am greatly embarrassed. I have behaved insensitively at times, and I accept responsibility for that, though I do not believe that all of these allegations are accurate. I always felt that I was pursuing shared feelings, even though I now realize I was mistaken,” Rose said in a statement to the newspaper.

“I have learned a great deal as a result of these events, and I hope others will too. All of us, including me, are coming to a newer and deeper recognition of the pain caused by conduct in the past, and have come to a profound new respect for women and their lives,” he added.