CBS News Makes 3 Sexual Harassment Settlements

Charlie Rose

CBS News has settled a lawsuit with three women who accused former CBS anchor Charlie Rose of "blatant and repeated sexual harassment" and "subsequent unlawful retaliation."

The suit against CBS News was discontinued, and the terms of the settlement are confidential. The suit against Rose remains open. A CBS News spokesperson told Business Insider the matter was resolved and that the plaintiffs requested that the financial amount remain confidential.

The women who filed the suit — Katherine Brooks Harris, Sydney McNeal, and Yuqing "Chelsea" Wei — worked at CBS between 2016 and 2018. They filed a suit against CBS and Rose in May in the New York Supreme Court.

The suit alleged harassment, including unwanted physical touching, that they said they experienced while in their professional jobs.

Rose "sexually touched Ms. McNeal, including placing his hands on her thigh and kissing her cheek," the lawsuit alleged. It said Rose referred to Ms. Wei as "China Doll" and alleged Rose suggested that Harris and McNeal should have sex with each other. The suit alleged Rose threatened to fire the plaintiffs and "verbally abused them as part of his predatory behavior, sexual dominance over them, and retaliation against them."

The complaint also alleged CBS was aware of Rose's harassment but failed to take action and "allowed Mr. Rose and others to continue to engage in sexual harassment for decades."