The latest wrinkle in the unraveling of broadcaster Charlie Rose’s career is a kinky one: A former intern for PBS’ “The Charlie Rose Show” has said he invited her to his apartment in 2002 and asked her to watch the S&M scene in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s movie “Secretary.”
“I proceeded to go into the living room and he said I want to show you this scene from this movie,” former intern Sarah Gordon told MSNBC on Wednesday.
“He said, ‘Have a seat, relax’ and he proceeded to turn on the film ‘Secretary,’ which is a sexually involved film, involving S&M unfortunately,” said Gordon, who worked on the PBS talk show from 2002 to 2003. “I guess some people are really into this. I’m not.”
The 2002 Steven Shainberg film stars Maggie Gyllenhaal as secretary who begins an S&M relationship with her dominant boss (James Spader).
“I just didn’t know what to say, probably then I tried to divert it,” Gordon told MSNBC. “I always try to change the subject.”
Gordon said that the incident still raises questions for her even years later. “I’m conflicted because I don’t know if it’s my place to judge someone. I think he’s probably troubled and I give empathy for people that are troubled. I think we all have issues in life,” she said. “I don’t think someone like that deserves to have a position like that if they’re going to abuse their power.”
Rose, one of the most celebrated broadcasters of his generation, saw his career implode this week after the Washington Post published a report with eight women accusing him of sexual misconduct on his PBS show between the 1990s and 2011, including accusations that he groped women or exposed himself.
In addition, three other women at CBS News have come forward to accuse him of inappropriate behavior since 2011.
On Tuesday, CBS News fired Rose from “CBS This Morning” and “60 Minutes,” and both PBS and Bloomberg cut ties to the 75-year-old broadcaster as well.