Hours after CNN published a report in which five women alleged that prominent political journalist Mark Halperin sexually harassed them at ABC News, HBO and MSNBC have announced they are cutting ties with the writer.
Halperin will no longer be a guest on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, the New York Times reports. “We find the story and the allegations very troubling,” an MSNBC spokesperson told the New York Times. “Mark Halperin is leaving his role as a contributor until the questions around his past conduct are fully understood.”
HBO, too, has ended its relationship with Halperin, telling CNN’s Oliver Darcy, “HBO is no longer proceeding with the project tied to the untitled book co-authored by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann on the 2016 Presidential election. HBO has no tolerance for sexual harassment within the company or its productions.”
As more and more victims of sexual harssment and assault are coming forward in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein allegations, five women alleged that Halperin made unwanted sexual advances at work, including allegedly pressing his genitals against three women while clothed. All of the allegations were made during his tenure at ABC News, between the 1990s and mid-2000s.
“During this period, I did pursue relationships with women that I worked with, including some junior to me. I now understand from these accounts that my behavior was inappropriate and caused others pain,” Halperin said in response. “For that, I am deeply sorry and I apologize. Under the circumstances, I’m going to take a step back from my day-to-day work while I properly deal with this situation.”
