Three women are suing disgraced television journalist Charlie Rose and his former employer CBS News for his “blatant and repeated sexual harassment,” according to new Manhattan court papers.
Katherine Brooks Harris, Syndey McNeal and Chelsea Wei, who are all in their 20s, began working for the 76-year-old broadcaster from 2016 through 2017 as associates or assistants, the documents say.
Rose told Harris and McNeal that he hired them because he likes “tall women” before asking about their sex lives, according to the Manhattan Supreme Court suit.
He also touched all three women’s arms, shoulders, waists and backs and even demanded they give him a kiss before leaving for summer vacation, according to court papers.
When Harris wore a floral-patterned miniskirt to work, the TV host allegedly told her that “the roses on her skirt were his roses.”
“Mr. Rose repeatedly boasted of his sexual conquests, telling [his employees], ‘You should have seen the women that I was with when I was younger,’ ” the suit says.
He also “suggested to Ms. Harris and Ms. McNeal that they have sex with each other and told them words to the effect of, ‘You just need to become lovers already,’ indicating that he was having sexual fantasies about them,” the suit says.
They were once summoned to his Bellport, LI, home, where he allegedly said, “I better not hear any stories about two young women swimming naked together” in his swimming pool.
As for Wei, Rose referred to her as a “China Doll,” which is a “fetish term,” the suit says.
Once, “in a sexual manner,” he whispered in her ear, “Happy birthday, dear,” the suit says.
The women say they complained about Rose’s conduct to an executive producer and an HR rep, but he was never disciplined.
Wei even allegedly warned her bosses, “I’m telling you in case you have a lawsuit on your hands.”
Rose lashed out at the women after they complained — calling Harris a “f–king kindergartner” and McNeal and Wei “f–king idiots,” the suit says.
He later fired both Harris and McNeal. Wei went on medical leave after being demoted.
They’re suing for unspecified money damages.
In the past, Rose has apologized for “inappropriate behavior” toward female colleagues. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the new lawsuit.
Reps for CBS also did not immediately return messages.