Media companies quickly cut ties with Mark Halperin after five women accused the veteran journalist of sexual harassment during his time working at ABC News
Halperin, who is a regular contributor on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” was working with Penguin Books to publish a book on the 2016 election, “Game Change 3.” However, the book publisher released a statement saying that it was canceling those plans Thursday in light of the bombshell allegations.
The book was slated to be adapted into an HBO film. However, the cable network canceled its contract with Halperin, telling the Daily Beast, “HBO has no tolerance for sexual harassment within the company or its productions.”
Meanwhile, Showtime, NBC, and MSNBC announced they would re-evaluate Halperin’s position within their respective operations.
Showtime said it will “evaluate all options should we decide to move forward” with its show, “The Circus,” on which Halperin is a co-host. “There is no tolerance for sexual harassment within Showtime and its productions.”
MSNBC told Fox News in a statement, “We find the story and the allegations very troubling. Mark Halperin is leaving his role as a contributor until the questions around his past conduct are fully understood.”
Halperin told CNN, which broke the news of the sexual harassment allegations, that “I now understand from these accounts that my behavior was inappropriate and caused others pain,” and he apologized to the women involved.
He added, “under the circumstances, I’m going to take a step back from my day-to-day work while I properly deal with this situation.”
The CNN report included allegations that Halperin propositioned women for sex, kissed, and grabbed co-workers’ breasts against their will and pressed his erect penis against them while clothed without their consent.
Halperin denies grabbing a woman’s breasts and pressing his genitals against three of the women.
On Thursday night, two more women accused Halperin of sexual misconduct.
