topic NBC Fires Matt Lauer in Community Chat

NBC Fires Matt Lauer

Moonchilde — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 22:43:35 GMT

....for...you guessed it.

Matt Lauer, a familiar face in morning news as the anchor of "Today" for two decades, was fired by NBC News on Wednesday after a female colleague made a detailed complaint accusing him of inappropriate sexual behavior during the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

The accusation also noted that the alleged behavior continued in the workplace after the games, NBC News confirmed.

"Today" co-anchors Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb were emotional as they announced Lauer's firing Wednesday, telling viewers at the top of the live broadcast that they were "heartbroken" over his departure but didn't yet know all of the details.

In a memo to employees sent Wednesday morning, NBC News Chairman Andrew Lack said the complaint prompted a serious review and represented a "clear violation of our company's standards."

Lack said it was the first complaint lodged against Lauer, 59, for his behavior since he took over as anchor of the show in 1997, but there was "reason to believe" it may not have been an isolated incident.

"Our highest priority is to create a workplace environment where everyone feels safe and protected, and to ensure that any actions that run counter to our core values are met with consequences, no matter who the offender," Lack said.

On Wednesday afternoon, a few hours after Lauer's ouster was announced, Variety published an article that depicted Lauer as a serial harasser of women who worked on "Today," preying on many of the female producers who worked for him. The accusers in the article were anonymous, and their accounts have not been confirmed by NBC News.

“He couldn’t sleep around town with celebrities or on the road with random people, because he’s Matt Lauer and he’s married," a former producer told the magazine. "So he’d have to do it with his stable, where he exerted power, and he knew people wouldn’t ever complain.”

Variety said that during the course of a two-month investigation, it spoke with three women who claimed they were sexually harassed by Lauer and corroborated their stories with “dozens of interviews with current and former staffers.”

The staffers who spoke to Variety accused him of exposing himself to one woman, and then reprimanding her for not engaging in a sex act. He was also accused of giving another colleague a sex toy as a present along with “an explicit note about how he wanted to use it on her.”

The article said the women complained to management, but the complaints fell on deaf ears given the lucrative advertising surrounding “Today.”

A spokesperson for NBC forcefully denied that anyone who is now in management was made aware of these complaints.

"We can say unequivocally, that, prior to Monday night, current NBC News management was never made aware of any complaints about Matt Lauer’s conduct," the spokesperson said.

Ari Wilkenfeld, who said he is the lawyer for the woman whose accusation against Lauer prompted his firing, said in a statement that he and his client met Monday evening for several hours with representatives from NBC's Human Resources and Legal Department. He said she did not want to be identified.

"Our impression at this point is that NBC acted quickly, as all companies should, when confronted with credible allegations of sexual misconduct in the workplace," Wilkenfeld said. "While I am encouraged by NBC's response to date, I am in awe of the courage my client showed to be the first to raise a complaint and to do so without making any demands other than the company do the right thing."

Guthrie, who joined Lauer at the anchor desk in 2012, said she was "heartbroken" for both him and the "brave colleague who came forward to tell her story and any other women who have their stories to tell."

"I'm sure we will be learning more details in the hours and days to come. And we promise we will share that with you," she said.

Lauer did not immediately respond publicly to the announcement of his firing.

Re: NBC Fires Matt Lauer

jaxs mom — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 22:48:21 GMT

yes there was already two threads on it, at least one of which was locked. Edited to say apparently both have been locked, the one on the first page this forum and the one in TV

Re: NBC Fires Matt Lauer

Moonchilde — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 22:48:39 GMT

@jaxs mom wrote:
yes there was already two threads on it, at least one of which was locked.

Ah, then that’s why I didn’t see anything on the front page of CC. I checked before I posted because I was surprised I didn’t see a thread.

Oh well, this will go south pretty quickly then. Good thing I’m not all emotionally invested.

Re: NBC Fires Matt Lauer

TenderMercies — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 22:49:30 GMT

It's creepy how most of these famous instances we keep hearing about have non-traditional circumstances surrounding the harassment. It's not just that the guys touch them in the wrong place or make a pass at them. They're exposing themselves, wanting to take showers, hitting on kids at parties, etc. I can't even go to the mall or take a shower anymore without thinking of these creeps.

Re: NBC Fires Matt Lauer

YorkieonmyPillow — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 22:55:09 GMT

Katie Couric said Matt L's most annoying habit was that he "pinched her on the a** a lot," and she laughed.....

Re: NBC Fires Matt Lauer

cherry — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 22:57:04 GMT

@Moonchilde This happened years ago, but I saw Katie Couric slap Matt across the face ,on live TV. I can't recall what happend to warrent the slap, but she let him have it

Of course they both smiled for the camera, and nothing more was said. I wonder if she knew?

Re: NBC Fires Matt Lauer

esmeraldagooch — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 23:07:25 GMT

I was watching a clip of his lady coworkers saying the channel had never seen any sign about this activity in the past. Today Rush Limbaugh was talking about Him Pinching Katie Couric on the bottom a lot.... 2012

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/29/katie-couric-would-kill-dan-rather-marry-matt-lauer-video_n_1636563.html

The drudge report is on fire about him today. Just how many at his network hid this problem and enabled him to prey on women?

Re: NBC Fires Matt Lauer

GSPgirl — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 22:59:58 GMT

@YorkieonmyPillow wrote:
Katie Couric said Matt L's most annoying habit was that he "pinched her on the a** a lot," and she laughed.....

That says a lot about Katie. I was pinched, too, at my job. It was humiliating. The person who did it was fired along with my boss who told me it was no big deal. I also found out there were other women that were being pinched and they were keeping logs. So if you think you are alone in the workplace, you most often are not.

Re: NBC Fires Matt Lauer

Moonchilde — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 23:00:46 GMT

@cherry, I’ve heard a lot of unpleasant things about Matt Lauer over the years, though nothing like this. What’s really horrendous to me is that NBC knew, I don’t care what they claim now, and they have known, for a long time, and got rid of the women but kept him. That’s truly disgusting.

LOL this thread will probably be gone when I get back from the store ;-)

Re: NBC Fires Matt Lauer

GSPgirl — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 23:01:06 GMT

@esmeraldagooch wrote:
I was watching a clip of his lady coworkers saying the channel had never seen any sign about this activity in the past. Today Rush Limbaugh was talking about Him Pinching Katie Couric on the bottom a lot.... 2012
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/29/katie-couric-would-kill-dan-rather-marry-matt-lauer-video_n_163html

Is this the video where she talks about the pinching? She’s disgusting.

Re: NBC Fires Matt Lauer

LTT1 — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 23:22:43 GMT

@Moonchilde

Edited

Having read the clearly present gossip articles on the internet about him, I’d say that the management must have had their eyes totally closed.

What I read (who knows if it was true) was that ML’S wife would not allow him to stay there if another female anchor (one in particular) was allowed to continue to anchor with him.

So, it would seem to me that his past reveals his philandering tendencies.

Re: NBC Fires Matt Lauer

TenderMercies — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 23:02:52 GMT

I worked in Rockefeller Center on 51st Street between 5th and 6th Aves. from 1999-2000. I would always see the people gathered outside the Today Show with their signs every day on the way to work, and there was a pizza place I would frequent during my lunch hour that was directly across the plaza from my buidling. I would see a lot of famous people during that time, and I vividly recall crossing paths with Matt Lauer. He was walking very briskly with a woman and as we passed each other, I heard him spitting the most vile curse words you could imagine. He was absolutely enraged, and I was shocked at the words he was saying. I felt so bad for that woman with him, and I never looked at him the same way again.

Re: NBC Fires Matt Lauer

NCbeach — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 23:04:22 GMT

What I cannot understand is how these men explain their actions to their children, especially their daughters?

Re: NBC Fires Matt Lauer

lovescats — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 23:04:41 GMT

I haven't liked him since Anne Curry left the today show. He just seemed arrogant.

Re: NBC Fires Matt Lauer

SilleeMee — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 23:08:54 GMT

@NCbeach wrote:
What I cannot understand is how these men explain their actions to their children, especially their daughters?

They don't. The daughters' mothers do the talking.

Re: NBC Fires Matt Lauer

YorkieonmyPillow — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 23:16:34 GMT

And his co-workers are so, so surprised....people who have worked right next to him for years......they are just soooo shocked!!!! They had absolutely no idea.........🙄

Re: NBC Fires Matt Lauer

Cakers3 — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 23:22:48 GMT

@YorkieonmyPillow wrote:
And his co-workers are so, so surprised....people who have worked right next to him for years......they are just soooo shocked!!!! They had absolutely no idea.........🙄

@YorkieonmyPillow Interesting point. I don't watch CBS morning anymore for reasons left alone but I did tune in when Charlie Rose was dismissed.

I though Gayle and Nora looked stiff and almost forced in their remarks. I didn't catch that they didn't really know; I saw those two as knowing but had to side with the accusers and they looked uncomfortable overall.

jmoymmv

Re: NBC Fires Matt Lauer

elated — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 23:27:23 GMT

@YorkieonmyPillow wrote:
And his co-workers are so, so surprised....people who have worked right next to him for years......they are just soooo shocked!!!! They had absolutely no idea.........🙄

To pretend you knew nothing and it was a surprise, should tell you all you need to know. How sad that we need to continue putting our heads in the sand and continue with the deceitful statements. I think this train has just begun to leave the station. More heads will roll.

Re: NBC Fires Matt Lauer

cancun08 — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 23:29:29 GMT

@YorkieonmyPillow wrote:
And his co-workers are so, so surprised....people who have worked right next to him for years......they are just soooo shocked!!!! They had absolutely no idea.........🙄

@YorkieonmyPillow

What a bunch of bull that is! Phonies.

Re: NBC Fires Matt Lauer

Anvar — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 23:29:32 GMT

I am grateful that sexual harassment is finally being acknowledged and punished. Women are not objects to be touched and grabbed at a man's whim.