It’s been a while since Matt Lauer was abruptly let go from the Today show amid sexual misconduct allegations. But as time passes, new details continue to surface about the events surrounding his sudden exit. A recent report from Page Six sheds light on what really happened on his final day at the iconic morning program. November 28, 2017, was just another Tuesday for Matt, or so he thought. Little did he know that it would be his last day hosting the show he'd been a part of for over two decades.
A Day Like Any Other — Or Was It?
According to insiders, Matt was in his usual confident and self-assured mode that day. He had no inkling that his time on the Today show was about to come to an abrupt end. “He was acting his usual cocky, confident self,” one insider revealed. “He had no idea that this would turn out to be his last day on the show.”
But behind the scenes, NBC executives were busy piecing together a damning puzzle. Around 6 p.m., an NBC employee met with the human resources team at Rockefeller Center to reveal "irrefutable evidence" of Matt’s misconduct. The source claimed that she had a sexual relationship with Matt during the Sochi Olympics in 2014, and it continued after they returned to New York. “She was a very junior staff member at the time, so there was a clear issue of balance of power,” the insider said.
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Savannah, Matt, and Hoda on Today. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
Behind the Scenes at NBC: The Shocking Revelations
According to Page Six, NBC employees were completely unaware of Matt's actions behind the scenes. “Nobody knew what Matt was doing with the interns and junior producers. It was appalling,” a source revealed. Following the employee’s confession, NBC executives wasted no time in firing Matt overnight. They reportedly informed Matt's co-stars, Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb, of his departure around 4 a.m. on November 29 as the women were heading to work. “They were shocked, there were tears, but they had time to work on their opening remarks [to the TV audience] about Matt,” a colleague said.
NBC had reportedly heard whispers of sexual allegations against Matt days before his firing. “He was already being investigated by Variety magazine, but at that point, nobody knew what they had on him. The New York Times was calling around, saying they were doing a piece on the culture of the Today show, and The Enquirer was asking about settlements paid to female staff members who had affairs with Matt,” a source revealed.
The Final Hours: Matt's Reaction
During that time, NBC President Noah Oppenheimer and Chairman Andy Lack reportedly questioned Matt several times about the rumors. When asked if there was anything they should "know about," Matt reportedly replied, “I am racking my brains, but I can’t think of anything.” An insider said, “Genuinely, nobody at NBC News had any idea at this stage that he was preying on younger staffers at Today.” However, Matt was allegedly overheard saying, “This is going to be my last parade,” while working the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade broadcast with Savannah on November 23, just days before he was let go.
After his first accuser came forward, Matt was reportedly pulled into an emergency meeting with NBC executives. “Matt was at first unapologetic, defending himself. He claimed he’d had three consensual affairs in the 25 years at Today,” an insider said. But when the evidence against him was presented, “He became quiet and didn’t argue. He accepted that it didn’t look good.”
