CBS News correspondent Vladimir Duthiers has emerged as the front-runner to take over for Charlie Rose at “CBS This Morning,” sources tell Page Six.
Duthiers has already filled in for Rose after the veteran anchor was fired by the network over allegations of sexual harassment.
Duthiers, 47, said on the air during a discussion of the Rose scandal that’s rocked the show: “I keep thinking about the number of talented women who have left media and entertainment because of an abuser’s powers over them. The loss of talent these industries have suffered.” Gayle King added, “I think things are changing, and that is a good thing.”
With Rose out after a bombshell report detailing the anchor’s alleged misconduct with eight women — including one who said, “He was a sexual predator” — plus a CBS investigation that turned up further names, CBS is searching for a replacement with few household names on staff.
Sources told Page Six last week that the network was “begging” new “60 Minutes” correspondent Oprah Winfrey to fill in and team up with best friend King. But a network source says, “Oprah will continue doing work for ‘60 Minutes,’ but has no interest in getting up at 4 a.m. every day.” The source added of Duthiers, “Vlad is a front-runner at this point … Like Charlie, Vlad’s strength is as an interviewer.”
Duthiers is a Peabody and Emmy winner, and got high marks for covering the Black Lives Matter protests in Ferguson, Mo. He was also CNN’s West Africa correspondent.
A source says that at the show, a week after Rose’s sudden departure, “CBS News insiders are still reeling from the accusations … Charlie had a reputation as a womanizer, a ladies’ man, but nobody knew he was a predator.”
The source said that “on a few occasions he made inappropriate comments to women, and it was just brushed off as ‘Charlie being Charlie.’ It’s true to say the crisis has caught everybody off guard at CBS News. We’re still dealing with the collateral damage.”
A rep for the network said of Duthiers, “We decline to comment on speculation.”