According to the New York Times, NBC has just fired morning news anchor Matt Lauer over a sexual harassment allegation. The network’s president for news Andrew Lack, said in a memo to staff today,
“On Monday night, we received a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace by Matt Lauer.
While it is the first complaint about his behavior in the over 20 years he’s been at NBC News, we were also presented with reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident.”
He said the allegation against Mr. Lauer
“represented, after serious review, a clear violation of our company’s standards. As a result, we’ve decided to terminate his employment.”
Lauer’s co-host, Savannah Guthrie, announced the news live this morning. Appearing on the verge of tears, Guthrie said,
“All we can say is we are heartbroken; I’m heartbroken…”
Describing Lauer as “a dear, dear friend,” and said she was “heartbroken for the brave colleague who came forward to tell her story.”
How do you reconcile your love for someone with the revelation that they have behaved badly?”
The “Today” staff learned the news shortly before going live. Giving the weather report, a visibly shaken Al Roker said,
“I’m still trying to process the news.”
Soon after announcing the dismissal, Ms. Guthrie gripped the hand of Hoda Kotb, who was rushed in as an emergency substitute host.
The move by NBC represents one of the few examples of a company taking pre-emptive action over sexual harassment complaints before any allegations had become public.
Of course, Lauer’s dismissal was seized upon by our jack ass, press-hating POTUS, who tweeted,
“Wow, Matt Lauer was just fired from NBC for “inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace.” But when will the top executives at NBC & Comcast be fired for putting out so much Fake News. Check out Andy Lack’s past!”
Keeping it classy, as always.
(Photo YouTube; via NY Times)
The post #Breaking: NBC Fires Matt Lauer Over Sexual Harassment Allegations appeared first on The WOW Report.
