NBC has fired news anchor Matt Lauer over sexual harassment allegations by an employee, the network’s president for news said in a memo to his staff Wednesday.
The “Today” show host was canned for “inappropriate workplace conduct,” according to 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,” Lack wrote.
“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,” he wrote.
“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.
“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 manner as we can. To that end, Noah [NBC News President Noah Oppenheim] and I will be meeting with as many of you as possible throughout the day today to answer your questions.”
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
Savannah Guthrie made the stunning announcement at the top of the “Today” show, where Lauer has been a staple for two decades and where she has worked with him since 2012.
“This is a sad morning at ‘Today’ and NBC News,” she said, adding that she was informed just moments before going on the air.
“As I’m sure you can understand, we are devastated. I’m heartbroken for Matt. He is my dear, dear friend and partner,” she said.
Guthrie added that she was heartbroken for the woman who accused Lauer of misconduct, saying “it’s long overdue” that women feel comfortable standing up to abusive men.
Co-host Hoda Kotb said she has known Lauer for years and “loved him as a friend and a colleague.”
“It’s hard to reconcile the man who walks in every day” with the person mentioned in the complaint, she said.
Lauer’s axing comes a week after CBS News fired one of its own morning anchors, Charlie Rose, after several women accused the “CBS This Morning” co-host of sexual misconduct.