Today show host Matt Lauer has been fired from his position at NBC due to “inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace”.
In a statement sent to staff at the station, NBC News chairman Andy Lack wrote that the veteran newsman’s contract had been terminated, after bosses at the network received a complaint from a colleague.
“Dear Colleagues,” Lack’s statement read. “On Monday night, we received a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace by Matt Lauer. It represented, after serious review, a clear violation of our company’s standards. As a result, we’ve decided to terminate his employment.”
Lack went on to state that it was the first complaint company executives have received about Lauer, 60, who has hosted the Today show since 1997, but that the alleged indiscretion “may not have been an isolated incident”.
He added that NBC News executives were “deeply saddened by this turn of events” and will meet with staff throughout Wednesday (29Nov17) to discuss the situation.
Lauer’s regular co-host on the breakfast news show, Savannah Guthrie, was joined by Today’s Hoda Kotb for Wednesday’s edition of the news show, and read out the statement before telling viewers she and her colleagues were “devastated” by the news.
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
A visibly emotional Guthrie added, “We are heartbroken. I’m heartbroken for Matt, he is my dear, dear, friend and my partner, and he has been loved 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.”
Al Roker, who has worked with Lauer at NBC for three decades, commented to add he was also “trying to process” the allegation.
Last year (16) another Today show host, Billy Bush, resigned after a tape emerged of him joking with President Donald Trump about sexual assault. In the recording Trump boasted he could “grab” women by the “p**sy” with impunity.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/935844881825763328
Trump responded to Lauer’s firing on Twitter by writing, “Wow, Matt Lauer was just fired from NBC for “inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace.” But when will the top executives at NBC & Comcast be fired for putting out so much Fake News. Check out Andy Lack’s past!”
Lauer is yet to publicly respond to his sacking.
