Matt Lauer fired from NBC after complaint of sexual harassment
Matt Lauer has been sacked by NBC (Picture: Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) M..
Matt Lauer has been sacked from NBC following a complaint of sexual harassment.
The host of The Today Show has been fired from the company he has worked at for 23 years after an allegation of inappropriate behaviour in the workplace was made against him.
And staff at The Today Show were reportedly told that bosses had reasons to believe that the complaint made was not an isolated incident.
The shocking announcement was made by Matt’s Today Show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, who said that it was a ‘sad morning at NBC’.
Reading a statement sent to staff from chairman of NBC News Andy Lack, Savannah said: ‘Dear colleagues, on Monday night, we received a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behaviour 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 behaviour 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.’
The statement went on: ‘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 organisation and do it in as transparent a manner as we can.’
A visibly emotional Guthrie said: ‘As I’m sure you can imagine, we are devastated and we are still processing all of this. We do not know more than what I just shared with you.’
She added that, as journalists, they would be covering the story despite their relationship with Lauer.
Guthrie continued: ‘All we can say is we’re heartbroken. Heartbroken for Matt, he is my dear, dear friend and my partner, he is beloved by many many people here.
‘And I’m heartbroken for the brave colleague who came forward to tell her story and for any other women who have their stories to tell.’
Lauer, 59, has yet to make a statement.
The TV star is one of US news’s most recognisable men, having starting his NBC career back in 1992. After filling in as anchor on Today, Weekend Today and NBC News at Sunrise, he became a news anchor on Today in 1994, becoming co-anchor in 1997.
This month, he celebrated 20 years as the flagship news programme’s co-anchor.
Lauer is also known for hosting the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which he has done since 1997.
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