Major news this morning out of the television world, as Hollywood’s ongoing sexual harassment scandal has enveloped yet another big name.
It’s Matt Lauer this time.
And he’s been FIRED by NBC.
The shocking development was relayed to viewers first thing on Wednesday by Today Show anchor Savannah Guthrie.
She opened the latest episode of the long-running program as follows, reading a statement by NBC News Chairman Andrew 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.”
Continued Lack, via Guthrie:
“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 and I will be meeting with as many of you as possible throughout the day today to answer your questions.”
Lauer has been at The Today Show desk since 1997.
He’s been under fire for years, with previous rumors that he might be let go by the network.
But not for sexual misconduct.
For his alleged attitude toward his fellow colleagues, combined with dwindling ratings of late for Today.
Guthrie has sat alongside Lauer for years and was clearly taken aback by this news.
“As I’m sure you can imagine, we are devastated and we are still processing all of this,” she told viewers, adding:
“I will tell you right now we do not know more than what I just shared with you, but we will be covering this story as reporters, as journalists.
“I’m sure we will be learning more details in the hours and days to come. And we promise we will share that with you.”
Questions, such as whether Megyn Kelly will replace Lauer, will assuredly abound over the coming hours, days and weeks.
It’s also safe to assume that more details will come out regarding the allegations surrounding Lauer, who is the latest A-Lister (Kevin Spacey, Louis CK, etc.) to lose work due to these types of sexual harassment accusations.
“We are heartbroken. I’m heartbroken for Matt – he is my dear, dear friend and my partner, and he has been loved by many, many people here,” Guthrie concluded.
“And I’m heartbroken for the brave colleague who came forward to tell her story, and any other women who have their own stories to tell.”
Hoda Kotb joined Guthrie in Lauer’s usual seat this morning, calling it a “tough morning” and sharing her own take on the scandal:
“It’s hard to reconcile with what we are hearing with the man who we know, who walks in this building every single day.
“We were both woken up with the news, kind of pre-dawn, and we’re trying to process it and trying to make sense of it – and it’ll take some time for that.”
Naturally, Donald Trump also felt a need to chime in on this stunner, Tweeting this morning:
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!
We’ll have plenty more on this story as news breaks.
For now… WOW.