The Shocking Allegations That Rocked NBC
When Matt Lauer was abruptly fired from the Today show in November 2017, the news sent shockwaves through the entertainment world. The allegations against him were serious: according to Page Six, Lauer allegedly sexually assaulted a female NBC staffer during the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014. Now, as the story continues to unfold, we’re learning more about the accuser and the swift actions taken by NBC. This isn’t just another Hollywood scandal; it’s a powerful reminder of how important it is to take allegations of misconduct seriously.
According to insiders, the alleged victim came forward on Monday, November 27, contacting NBC’s human resources department. Her evidence was so compelling that by Tuesday night, Lauer was out of a job. But here’s the kicker: the accuser claims she has proof that Lauer’s behavior wasn’t isolated to her. While no additional evidence has surfaced yet, it’s clear that this story is just beginning.
Matt with his Today co-stars in Sochi in 2014.
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NBC’s Swift Response
Page Six reported that Matt’s firing came amidst rumors of several major news outlets preparing to expose his alleged misconduct. On November 29, the accuser’s lawyer, Ari Wilkenfeld, released a statement to the New York Times, saying, “My client and I met with representatives from NBC’s Human Resources and Legal Departments at 6 p.m. on Monday for an interview that lasted several hours. 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 praised NBC’s response but also highlighted the bravery of his client: “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.” He also confirmed that the accuser isn’t ready to come forward publicly at this time.
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 Sad Morning at the Today Show
On Wednesday morning, Matt’s co-anchor, Savannah Guthrie, opened the Today show alongside Hoda Kotb with the news of Matt’s firing. Savannah read a statement from NBC chairman Andy Lack: “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. While it is the first complaint about his behavior in the over twenty years he’s been at NBC News, we were also presented with reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident.”
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“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,” Savannah continued. “We are deeply saddened by this turn of events but we will face it together as a news organization — and do it in as transparent a matter as we can.”
