‘Today’ show host Matt Lauer has been fired from NBC News after a colleague came forward with a detailed complaint about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace that first transpired during the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Matt had been an anchor on ‘Today’ for two decades.
‘Today’ co-anchors Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb couldn’t help but get emotional as they announced Matt’s firing Wednesday morning, telling viewers at the top of the live broadcast that they were processing his departure but didn’t yet know all of the details.
In a memo to employees, NBC News Chairman Andrew Lack said the complaint, which was made by a female colleague of Matt’s, prompted a serious review and represented a “clear violation of our company’s standards.”
Although it was the first complaint brought against Matt, the network has good “reason to believe” it may not have been an isolated incident.
Ari Wilkenfeld, the lawyer for the woman who accused Matt, 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.
“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.”
Take a look at Savannah and Hoda’s emotional announcement below.
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
Let us tell you this — NBC wouldn’t have fired their lead anchor of 20+ years if there wasn’t SUBSTANTIAL evidence of what allegedly transpired. He did not get suspended, he didn’t get demoted — Matt got fired.
Now, all we need is for Tamron Hall to swoop in as his replacement.
