Matt Lauer Fired By NBC Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations

NBC has fired longtime Today host Matt Lauer following allegations of workplace misconduct, the network announced on Wednesday.

We are devastated, Today co-host Savannah Guthrie said in an emotional statement. All we can say is we are heartbroken.

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, weve decided to terminate his employment. pic.twitter.com/1A3UAZpvPb

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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, weve decided to terminate his employment. pic.twitter.com/1A3UAZpvPb
TODAY (@TODAYshow) November 29, 2017

Guthrie said that NBC News chairman Andy Lack informed employees early Wednesday about the decision after having received a complaint about Lauers behavior on Monday night. She read Lacks note on-air, noting that while the network says it had never received a complaint about Lauer before, it has reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident.

NBC didnt elaborate on the allegations, but the New York Posts Page Six cited anonymous sources who said that Lauer assaulted a staffer at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. An earlier version of Page Sixs story said the incident took place during the 2016 Rio Olympics, which was later amended.

Both Guthrie and co-host Hoda Kotb appeared shaken by the news.

We are grappling with a dilemma that so many people have faced these weeks, Guthrie said. How do you reconcile your love for someone with the recognition that they have behaved badly? And I dont know the answer to that.

This is a very tough morning for both of us, Kotb said. Ive known Matt for 15 years and Ive loved him as a friend and a colleague, and just like you were saying, Savannah, its hard to reconcile what we are hearing with the man who we know, who walks in this building every, single day.

President Donald Trump , who has been accused by more than a dozen women of sexual misconduct, quickly reacted:

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 Lacks past!

Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 29, 2017","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Donald J. Trump","author_url":"https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump","cache_age":86400,"description":"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 Lacks past! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 29, 2017\n\n","provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Donald J. 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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 Lacks past!
Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 29, 2017

Lauers departure follows a torrent of sexual harassment and assault allegations against prominent male media figures, including Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, veteran broadcaster Charlie Rose, and prominent political journalist Mark Halperin. The revelations have resulted in broad action, with Weinstein fired from his namesake firm and booted out of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and Rose being fired by CBS and PBS. NBC fired Halperin, who was a frequent guest on MSNBC s Morning Joe.

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