It's been a long and rocky road for Matt Lauer since his sudden departure from the "Today" show amid serious allegations. Back in late 2017, Matt found himself at the center of a media storm after being fired due to sexual harassment claims. Now, five months later, he's stepping out of the shadows once more to address the public — this time with a focus on protecting his family.

In a candid statement shared with The Washington Post on April 26, Matt opened up about his reasons for staying quiet during this tumultuous period. "I haven't made any public comments on the many false stories from anonymous or biased sources that have been reported about me over these past several months," he explained. "I chose to remain silent in an effort to shield my family from further embarrassment and to help restore a small measure of the privacy they've lost."

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But now, Matt feels the need to speak up to defend those he holds dearest. "However, defending my family now requires me to speak up," he stated firmly. "I fully recognize that I acted inappropriately as a husband, father, and principal at NBC. But let me make one thing crystal clear: any allegations or reports of coercive, aggressive, or abusive actions on my part, at any time, are completely false," Matt concluded.

Life After the Fallout

It seems that Matt's recent silence might have been influenced by feelings of isolation. A source close to him told In Touch Weekly that he's been spending a lot of time alone, often secluded in a guesthouse or sitting outside in solitude. "He either stays inside the guesthouse or sits in one of the Adirondack chairs on the porch to take calls. You never see him smiling," the source revealed.

A Complicated Divorce

Matt's personal life has taken a significant hit as well, as he's currently navigating a multi-million dollar divorce from his wife, Annette Roque. According to insiders, Annette hesitated to take legal action initially due to their children, but eventually, she could no longer ignore the mounting allegations against Matt. "She's done with him," a source told In Touch Weekly earlier this year.

In fact, their 19-year marriage came to an abrupt end with a simple phone call just a month later. Another source shared, "She's taken off her wedding ring and has been living the high life in Europe. She's acting like a woman who has already moved on from a hellish marriage."

Rebuilding Amidst the Ruins

Meanwhile, Matt is reportedly struggling to cope with the aftermath of their separation. "He feels like he lost everything important in his life overnight. He's embarrassed and ashamed," an insider recently told Entertainment Tonight. "There's no chance at this point that they'll work things out. Matt held onto the idea that Annette might eventually forgive him because she had always stood by him, but now he has no hope."