NBC’s “Today” show, Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb revealed that Matt Lauer had been fired after a complaint over his alleged “inappropriate sexual behavior.”
Matt Lauer has been terminated from NBC News. On Monday night, we received a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace by Matt Lauer. As a result, we’ve decided to terminate his employment. pic.twitter.com/1A3UAZpvPb
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) November 29, 2017
NBC News chairman Andrew Lack had shared a memo with employees, saying the complaint against Lauer prompted a “serious review” and represented a “clear violation of our company’s standards.” Interestingly enough, Lack said it was the first such complaint filed against Lauer in 20 years, but there was “reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident.”
Lauer’s morning cohost Savannah Guthrie had the awkward job of explaining why Lauer wasn’t there, reading off the full memo from Andrew Lack, then sharing her own thoughts:
“Hoda is here with me this morning because this is a sad morning at Today and NBC News. […] For the moment all we can say is that we are heartbroken. I’m heartbroken for Matt. He is my dear, dear friend and my partner and he is beloved by many, many people here. And I’m heartbroken for the brave colleague who came forward to tell her story and any other women who have their own stories to tell.”
Lauer was a very popular anchor, but he had his critics — especially after he was the one who reportedly pushed out former co anchor Ann Curry.
Matt Lauer had recently signed a $20 million contract in 2016 extending through 2018. He just hosted NBC’s annual coverage of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, but apparently that was his last time doing so.
Source: Moviefone