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[webfact]

NBC News fires 'Today' co-host Matt Lauer for sexual misconduct

By Gina Cherelus and Jonathan Allen

 

NBC Today Show host Matt Lauer poses for photographers as he arrives for the opening of the new exhibit "Exhibitionism: The Rolling Stones" in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., November 15, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar/Files

 

NEW YORK (Reuters) - NBC News fired popular "Today" show host MattLauer after a colleague accused him of inappropriate sexual behavior, the network said on Wednesday, making him the latest rich and powerful man to be felled this year by accusations of harassment.

 

His termination sent shockwaves through U.S. morning television, which has long been dominated by the "Today" program where Lauer was an anchor since 1997 and was reportedly paid $20 million a year.

 

The married 59-year-old news star was the latest public figure to be embroiled in allegations of sexual misconduct that have struck down high-profile men in entertainment, politics and media.

 

The complaint made by an unnamed female colleague on Monday night was a "clear violation" by Lauer of the company's standards, NBC News chairman Andrew Lack said in a statement.

 

"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," Lack said.

 

Lauer's agent Ken Lindner did not respond to requests for comment.

 

The news was announced by "Today" co-anchors Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb at the start of the talk show, a staple of U.S. morning television for more than six decades that, NBC says, averages more than 4 million viewers.

 

"We just learned this moments ago just this morning," Guthrie said, visibly shaken. "As I'm sure you can imagine we are devastated."

 

Lack's statement did not say who made the accusation, but promised that NBC News would cover Lauer's firing in "as transparent a manner as we can."

 

The woman had met with New York Times reporters on Monday before meeting with NBC's human resources and legal departments that evening to share her allegation, the Times reported, saying that she said she was not ready then to publicly identify herself.

 

The woman's Washington-based lawyer, Ari Wilkenfeld, said the meeting with NBC officials lasted several hours.

 

"In fewer than 35 hours, NBC investigated and removed Mr. Lauer. 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 wrote in a statement.

 

The complaint said the sexual misconduct occurred while Lauer and the female colleague were covering the 2014 Sochi winter Olympics in Russia, NBC News reporter Stephanie Gosk said on air.

 

The misconduct continued after the Games, Gosk said. An NBC representative did not respond to a request for more details.

Comcast Corp, the largest U.S. cable television company, owns NBCUniversal. Its shares rose 2.7 percent to $37.23.

 

"Today" has dominated the morning show ratings since Lauer became an anchor in 1997. It earned $509 million in advertising revenue last year, more than any of its competitors, New York-based analysts Kantar Media said.

 

Lauer joined "Today" in 1994 and has interviewed presidents George Bush and Barack Obama and broadcast from seven Olympic Games. He had been due to join his co-hosts for the nationally-televised lighting of the giant Christmas tree at New York City's Rockefeller Center on Wednesday night.

 

According to Fortune Magazine, he signed a two-year deal in 2016 that would pay him $20 million per year.

 

U.S. President Donald Trump responded with messages on Twitter calling for some of Lauer's colleagues to be fired too, and adding to his recent attacks against U.S. news outlets for their reporting on his administration.

 

"Wow," Trump wrote about Lauer. "But when will the top executives at NBC & Comcast be fired for putting out so much Fake News."

 

During the 2016 presidential campaign, then-Republican candidate Trump was accused by 13 women who publicly said that in the past he had physically touched them inappropriately in some way, the Washington Post reported.

 

Trump denied the accusations, accused rival Democrats and the media of a smear campaign, and went on to win the election.

 

(Reporting by Gina Cherelus and Jonathan Allen; Additional reporting by Susan Heavey in Washington, Jessica Toonkel in New York and Supantha Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Alden Bentley, Howard Goller and Nick Zieminski)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-11-30

[lannarebirth]

No kidding. The only surprise here is that men aren't coming forward too. I'm guessing he never passed a mirror he didn't gaze into.

[BuaBS]

And the witch hunt goes on.

[tonray]

Good...all scumbags need to be fired. All future contracts will have a 'keep your d#$% n your pants' clause or lose your job clause. <deleted> is wrong with these blanking idiots.

 

Purge 'em all.,.........left, right, center, gay, straight, confused....dump all of em

[lannarebirth]

2 minutes ago, tonray said:

Good...all scumbags need to be fired. All future contracts will have a 'keep your d#$% n your pants' clause or lose your job clause. <deleted> is wrong with these blanking idiots.

 

Purge 'em all.,.........left, right, center, gay, straight, confused....dump all of em

 

In the main I agree with you but where does one draw the line?  Would telling an off color joke qualify to be career ending or should it only be physical actions?

 

[steven100]

 " Times reported, saying that she said she was not ready then to publicly identify herself. "

of coarse your not going to identify yourself ....

 

" The complaint said the sexual misconduct occurred while Lauer and the female colleague were covering the 2014 Sochi winter Olympics "

If it was such a big deal why didn't she report it then ....  why wait   ???

[tonray]

Just now, lannarebirth said:

 

In the main I agree with you but where does one draw the line?  Would telling an off color joke qualify to be career ending or should it only be physical actions?

 

No a joke certainly is not reason for firing..a warning not to do it again if someone complained would be warranted however.

 

In Lauer's case...details are making their way out today....he dropped his pants in his office and told a subordinate to perform on him, he had a button under his desk to lock his door to prevent her from leaving. 

 

Anytime someone uses their influence over job security to enhance their own jollies....lose your job

[IAMHERE]

I hope there is more proof than a she said.

[gk10002000]

How many men have filed such allegations against women co workers?  Have any men filed legal lawsuits for slander and defamation of character against these so called accusers?  So far most of this stuff has just been media trials with no legal actions filed.  Cosby suit of course comes to mind where there were lawsuits filed

[gk10002000]

33 minutes ago, steven100 said:

 " Times reported, saying that she said she was not ready then to publicly identify herself. "

of coarse your not going to identify yourself ....

 

" The complaint said the sexual misconduct occurred while Lauer and the female colleague were covering the 2014 Sochi winter Olympics "

If it was such a big deal why didn't she report it then ....  why wait   ???

yep.  I have seen similar things over the years in my many work places and my 35 years of working.  They hold onto allegations as ammunition for some future event.  Maybe a way to downsize and get rid of an employee without having to pay a severance package or unemployment insurance.  Or some other more vindictive reasons.

[Chou Anou]

35 minutes ago, lannarebirth said:

 

In the main I agree with you but where does one draw the line?  Would telling an off color joke qualify to be career ending or should it only be physical actions?

 

AN OFF COLOR JOKE?!? We're talking about a man who had a secret button under his desk to lock his office door when women he wanted to assault entered; who pulled out his penis in front of coworkers, who raped a woman over his desk...and you come in with this <deleted> about off color jokes?!?

[Chou Anou]

3 minutes ago, gk10002000 said:

How many men have filed such allegations against women co workers?  Have any men filed legal lawsuits for slander and defamation of character against these so called accusers?  So far most of this stuff has just been media trials with no legal actions filed.  Cosby suit of course comes to mind where there were lawsuits filed

EVERY WOMAN YOU KNOW has been sexually assaulted, groped, or propositioned for sex by a stranger. Think about that. Every <deleted> woman in your life. Your sisters, your mother, your aunts, your daughters. They may not be willing to speak about it, but they have. EVERY SINGLE ONE.

[steven100]

2 minutes ago, Chou Anou said:

AN OFF COLOR JOKE?!? We're talking about a man who had a secret button under his desk to lock his office door when women he wanted to assault entered; who pulled out his penis in front of coworkers, who raped a woman over his desk...and you come in with this <deleted> about off color jokes?!?

if it was so bad for her ... why didn't she go striaght to the police then  ...  ???

[tonray]

3 minutes ago, steven100 said:

if it was so bad for her ... why didn't she go striaght to the police then  ...  ???

Mistake...but of course you already know the reason....fear of losing your job and getting blackballed because the man you are accusing is powerful and makes a boatload of money for your boss.

[lannarebirth]

2 minutes ago, Chou Anou said:

AN OFF COLOR JOKE?!? We're talking about a man who had a secret button under his desk to lock his office door when women he wanted to assault entered; who pulled out his penis in front of coworkers, who raped a woman over his desk...and you come in with this <deleted> about off color jokes?!?

 

Yeah, I know. I read this article and others. I'm for getting all these scumbags, but this one's already in the bag. I was only broadening the topic to consider what also might be objectionable enough to be fired. 

[Bluespunk]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

NBC News fires 'Today' co-host Matt Lauer for sexual misconduct

Good.

 

Edited November 30, 2017 by Bluespunk

[zydeco]

Geraldo is praising Matt Lauer.  Is Geraldo next? https://www.thedailybeast.com/fox-news-troubled-by-geraldo-riveras-matt-lauer-tweets

[BuaBS]

That's how they are planning to get over the wage gap between men and women in Hollywood & TV land .... get rid of all the men by accusing them of sexual misconduct.

[Bluespunk]

7 minutes ago, BuaBS said:

That's how they are planning to get over the wage gap between men and women in Hollywood & TV land .... get rid of all the men by accusing them of sexual misconduct.

No.

 

They are getting rid of sexual predators, whose power and position in the past, has allowed them to get away with sexually abusing others.

 

Long may it continue, until every one of these scumbags is exposed and, for the filth who have sexually assaulted others, gaoled.

[Baerboxer]

4 hours ago, tonray said:

Good...all scumbags need to be fired. All future contracts will have a 'keep your d#$% n your pants' clause or lose your job clause. <deleted> is wrong with these blanking idiots.

 

Purge 'em all.,.........left, right, center, gay, straight, confused....dump all of em

 

Yeah, don't bother about any trial or such nonsense, string'em up!

 

After all women never lie, do they?

[Baerboxer]

2 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

No.

 

They are getting rid of sexual predators, whose power and position in the past, has allowed them to get away with sexually abusing others.

 

Long may it continue, until every one of these scumbags is exposed and, for the filth who have sexually assaulted others, gaoled.

 

Possibly. But getting rid without any prosecution or conviction. 

 

Seems an accusation is now enough.

[Bluespunk]

Just now, Baerboxer said:

 

Possibly. But getting rid without any prosecution or conviction. 

 

Seems an accusation is now enough.

Depends on how strong the claim is and how much evidence is given.

 

Prosecution is another issue, but in the work place if there is an accusation that is credible it and is supported by other witnesses, it should be acted upon.

 

If someone lies then they in turn should be dismissed and if serious enough prosecuted.

 

There clearly has been a culture where predatory behaviour has been viewed as ''normal'' in the entertainment industry.

 

Thankfully that is now changing

[Berkshire]

6 hours ago, steven100 said:

if it was so bad for her ... why didn't she go striaght to the police then  ...  ???

My understanding of these cases (or most of them) is that it's sexual harassment, not sexual assault.  Which means that they're mostly a civil matter.