Talk about a tale of two wives…
As previously reported, Matt Lauer has very few friends in light of the sexual harassment, misconduct and assault claims recently made against him.
But one unexpected source of support has actually been his ex-wife, Nancy Alspaugh, who told Entertainment Tonight that she has reached out to Lauer and supports him “one hundred percent,” even adding:
“He’s been the best person that’s ever held that job…
“I couldn’t imagine that anything that he would have done – that would have been so out of character for him – that would have caused that reaction.”
She’s referring, of course, to the reaction of NBC to allegations that Lauer acted inappropriately in the presence of at least one co-worker.
Inappropriate in a sexual manner, that is, which caused the network to terminate Lauer’s contact this past Monday night.
Conversely, however, Lauer’s current wife is showing her husband no such support.
According to The New York Post, Annette Roque has actually fled the United States in the wake of these horrible accusations.
She has allegedly taken the couple’s two youngest children – Romy, 14, and Thijs, 11 – and returned to her native Netherlands to be with family.
(The couple also share a 16-year old son named Jack.)
Roque and Lauer actually field for divorce over a decade ago, prior to changing their mind.
There’s been talk for years that Lauer has not been loyal to his wife, as he lives at least half of the time in New York City; while she and the kids reside in Long Island.
Seven months pregnant in 2006 when she filed to legally split from Lauer, Roque cited “cruel and inhumane” treatment in her official papers, mentioning Lauer’s “extremely controlling” behavior at the time.
The two have since reconciled, but it’s barely even a secret that they live separate lives.
“They play happy families at their Hamptons home on weekends, and then she lets him run off to New York to do Today – and goodness knows what else,” an East End source told to Radar Online in September.
Hollywood, meanwhile, remains rocked by the Lauer scandal.
Yes, it’s just the latest in a long line of alleged sexual misbehavior by male stars such as Kevin Spacey, Louis CK and Charlie Rose.
But Lauer was the face of NBC, the highest paid employee at the network, the person who greeted millions of Americans every morning.
Said News Chairman Andrew Lack in the statement that confirmed Lauer’s firing:
“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.
“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.”
The embattled morning anchor has since apologized in a statement of his own, saying on Thursday:
“There are no words to express my sorrow and regret for the pain I have caused others by words and actions. To the people I have hurt, I am truly sorry.”
Since this story broke, follow-up reports have claimed Lauer dropped his pants in front of staffers, gifted them with sex toys and may have even raped one of them.
He’ll never work on television again, that much is certain.
