Charlie Rose is done. His long career is over. He’s been fired by CBS, PBS, and Bloomberg. All his jobs are gone. Like that. In a split second. There will be no lifetime Emmy Awards, no big retirement dinners, no celebrations. A man who rose to the top of journalism has been destroyed. It’s an unnerving, sad ending.

Meantime, Pixar chief John Lasseter is taking a leave of absence. Pixar has a huge Oscar buzzed hit set for release this weekend, “Coco.” But Disney owns Pixar and evidently Lasseter is keeping one step ahead of fallout for whatever he’s about to be accused of as far as sexual harassment.

Who’s next? Soon, everyone will be cleared out except for Tom Hanks and Jacob Tremblay.

Lasseter’s memo to staff:

I have always wanted our animation studios to be places where creators can explore their vision with the support and collaboration of other gifted animators and storytellers. This kind of creative culture takes constant vigilance to maintain. It’s built on trust and respect, and it becomes fragile if any members of the team don’t feel valued. As a leader, it’s my responsibility to ensure that doesn’t happen; and I now believe I have been falling short in this regard.

I’ve recently had a number of difficult conversations that have been very painful for me. It’s never easy to face your missteps, but it’s the only way to learn from them. As a result, I’ve been giving a lot of thought to the leader I am today compared to the mentor, advocate and champion I want to be. It’s been brought to my attention that I have made some of you feel disrespected or uncomfortable. That was never my intent. Collectively, you mean the world to me, and I deeply apologize if I have let you down. I especially want to apologize to anyone who has ever been on the receiving end of an unwanted hug or any other gesture they felt crossed the line in any way, shape, or form. No matter how benign my intent, everyone has the right to set their own boundaries and have them respected.

In my conversations with Disney, we are united in our commitment to always treat any concerns you have with the seriousness they deserve, and to address them in an appropriate manner. We also share a desire to reinforce the vibrant, respectful culture that has been the foundation of our studios’ success since the beginning. And we agree the first step in that direction is for me to take some time away to reflect on how to move forward from here. As hard as it is for me to step away from a job I am so passionate about and a team I hold in the highest regard, not just as artists but as people, I know it’s the best thing for all of us right now. My hope is that a six-month sabbatical will give me the opportunity to start taking better care of myself, to recharge and be inspired, and ultimately return with the insight and perspective I need to be the leader you deserve.

I’m immensely proud of this team, and I know you will continue to wow the world in my absence. I wish you all a wonderful holiday season and look forward to working together again in the new year.

John 

Julie Christie played a woman with Alzheimer’s in the movie “Away from Her.” I’m questioning her mental faculties now. She’s signed a letter drafted by noted anti-Semite and anti-Israel proponent Roger Waters of Pink Floyd. The letter criticizes rocker Nick Cave for playing in Israel.

The letter is also signed by British directors Mike Leigh and Ken Loach, American activist Angela Davis, and minor rocker Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth as well as a bunch of Brits we’ve never heard of.

Waters has tried to intimidate other rockers including Paul McCartney and Elvis Costello, but they’ve ignored him, as have the Rolling Stones. Waters belongs to an anti-Israel group called BDS, which I believe stands for Big Dumb Shits.

I feel bad for Julie Christie, I was a fan of hers 40 years ago. That’s over. I do think it’s time to boycott Pink Floyd and Waters, no more Dark Side of the Moon or Another Brick in the Wall. This kind of behavior only advances anti-Semitism at every level. Acts of anti-Semitism are up all over the world. The perpetrators will only feel emboldened by celebrities giving their approval.

The same goes for a July 2017 letter signed by some artists over the performance of an Israeli play at Lincoln Center. Among the signers were actress/director Greta Gerwig, who’s got “Lady Bird” in the Oscar mix, and actor-playwright Tracey Letts, who’s also in “Lady Bird.” Gerwig has since renounced the letter but I suspect that had to do with fear of ruining the Oscar shot for her movie. Among the others who stupidly signed that letter were Wally Shawn, Andre Gregory, Kathleen Chalfant, Sam Gold, Lynn Nottage and former Focus Features head James Schamus. They have not retracted their signatures.

This sort of insipid, brewing anti-Semitism is just as bad as anything Mel Gibson has said or done. And that brings me to Gary Oldman, who has recently tried to apologize for a statement he made in 2014 about Gibson. Oldman said in a Playboy interview: “I don’t know about Mel. He got drunk and said a few things, but we’ve all said those things. We’re all fucking hypocrites. That’s what I think about it. The policeman who arrested him has never used the word ‘nigger’ or ‘that fucking Jew’? I’m being brutally honest here. It’s the hypocrisy of it that drives me crazy.”

Oldman added: “Mel Gibson is in a town that’s run by Jews and he said the wrong thing because he’s actually bitten the hand that I guess has fed him – and doesn’t need to feed him anymore because he’s got enough dough,” said the British actor. “He’s like an outcast, a leper, you know? But some Jewish guy in his office somewhere hasn’t turned and said, ‘That fucking kraut’ or ‘Fuck those Germans,’ whatever it is? We all hide and try to be so politically correct. That’s what gets me. It’s just the sheer hypocrisy of everyone, that we all stand on this thing going ‘Isn’t that shocking?'”

Oldman has offered an apology to the Anti-Defamation League but I suspect that, too, was because Oldman was warned of the consequences of his statement hurting his own Oscar chances.

As bad as the sexual harassment charges are over the last six weeks against various people in Hollywood, anti-semitism is its equal in every way. There are no gold statues in the offing for people who perpetuate hate.

UPDATE The disc is now up to $855 with 30 bids.

EARLIER Well, well. A copy of Louis CK’s “I Love You, Daddy” has hit eBay and garnered 21 bids. The current bid is for $560. The Hollywood Reporter says another copy sold for over $1000 on November 15th. UPDATE A source says that the DVD comes from SAG-AFTRA.

“I Love You Daddy” is the unreleased film from Louis CK, owned by The Orchard distribution company. They printed up and mailed 12,000 copies just as Louis’s sex scandal broke. They recalled the DVDs but most of them arrived a their destinations. I have one and now (joking) I’m considering selling it so I can buy a ticket to see Bruce Springsteen again!

Kidding aside, it’s a new world, ain’t it? I’m putting my copy in a vault. If you buy it on ebay, you’ll receive an unwatchable film. And there may be some Academy repercussions for the seller.

PS I’ve heard they’re going to cut Louis out of the movie and replace him with Christopher Plummer!