ADVERTISEMENT

Star newsman Matt Lauer fired over sexual misconduct claims

Star US morning news anchor Matt Lauer has been sacked over allegations of sexual misconduct, broadcast giant NBC announced Wednesday, in the latest fall from grace of a power player in the media and entertainment industry.

Lauer, 59, is a familiar face to American television viewers, as the host of NBC's popular morning news show "Today" for more than 20 years.

He also led the network's coverage of many major news events, from the September 11th attacks to presidential campaigns and the Olympics.

His co-host Savannah Guthrie announced his termination on air as their program began.

ADVERTISEMENT

"This is a sad morning here at 'Today' and at NBC News," Guthrie said.

The network said it fired Lauer after receiving a detailed account from one of his colleagues of what it called inappropriate sexual behavior on the job.

Lauer thus joins the ranks of other giants of American film, television and journalism who have fallen amid allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment or assault in a groundswell of outrage that began weeks ago with a flood of charges against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

The wave of allegations has reached Capitol Hill, where several sitting lawmakers stand accused of inappropriate behavior, and nearly every day seems to bring another stunning case involving a well known public figure.

In a memo to staff, NBC chairman Andrew Lack said that on Monday night, the network received a detailed complaint accusing Lauer of inappropriate behavior.

ADVERTISEMENT

"It represented, after serious review, a clear violation of our company's standards. As a result, we've decided to terminate his employment," Lack wrote.

Lack said this was the first complaint against Lauer in his more than two decades with NBC, but that the network was provided with evidence suggesting this may not have been an isolated incident.

Veteran journalist Katie Couric, who was Lauer's co-host for years, said in 2012 during an interview with the showbiz gossip news outlet TMZ that "Matt pinches me on the ass a lot."

She was responding to the question of what Lauer's most annoying habit was.

But Couric, the interviewer and the studio audience all laughed after her remark.

ADVERTISEMENT

- O'Reilly, Rose... and now Lauer --

President Donald Trump, who himself has been accused of harassment by more than a dozen women, seized on the Lauer news hungrily.

"Wow," he said on Twitter, adding that executives at NBC and its parent company Comcast should be fired for "putting out so much Fake News."

Trump was famously embarrassed in the final stretch of last year's presidential campaign by the release of audio in which he is heard boasting that his fame allowed him to grab women's genitals and get away with it.

At the time, he acknowledged the veracity of the so-called "Access Hollywood" tape and apologized publicly. It was initially thought the revelation could derail his bid for the White House.

ADVERTISEMENT

Trump has since changed his tune, and told a Republican senator shortly after his election victory that "we don't think it was my voice," The New York Times reported Wednesday, quoting a person familiar with that conversation.

And Trump has continued to suggest that the voice on the tape was not his, the Times said, quoting three people close to the president.

Firestorm in media world

Lauer was a veteran at NBC, equally called upon to present serious news stories and lighter morning show fare.

On the morning of the September 11, 2001 attacks, it was he who interrupted an interview to break news of the suicide airliner attacks against New York's World Trade Center.

ADVERTISEMENT

During the 2016 election campaign, he oversaw a forum featuring Trump and Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

Just last week, he hosted NBC's broadcast of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Lauer's sacking comes a week after CBS fired Charlie Rose, until then one of America's most respected TV journalists, after eight women told The Washington Post he had made unwanted sexual advances toward them.

Hours after word of Lauer's firing broke, National Public Radio said its chief news editor, David Sweeney, had left the company over allegations of sexual harassment. NPR senior vice president of news Michael Oreskes resigned on November 1, also over sexual misconduct allegations.

Rival television giant Fox News has long been rocked by allegations that its late former chairman Roger Ailes and ex-star presenter Bill O'Reilly, who was fired earlier this year, settled multiple cases of sexual harassment brought by female colleagues.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Lauer case stands out because he was fired even before the misconduct allegations were made public.

CNN reported that The New York Times and Variety magazine had been working for months on stories about alleged sexual misconduct by Lauer.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

Lagos postpones eagerly anticipated Easter boat regatta indefinitely

Lagos postpones eagerly anticipated Easter boat regatta indefinitely

Third Mainland Bridge reopens in 1 week, formal ceremony later - Minister

Third Mainland Bridge reopens in 1 week, formal ceremony later - Minister

Sanwo-Olu opens 'Sunday market' on Good Friday for Easter shopping

Sanwo-Olu opens 'Sunday market' on Good Friday for Easter shopping

Wike thanks Tinubu for the opportunity to serve

Wike thanks Tinubu for the opportunity to serve

Barrister Bida pens special birthday prayer for President Tinubu, Nigerians

Barrister Bida pens special birthday prayer for President Tinubu, Nigerians

Tinubu’s aide distributes food items to 1,750 persons in FCT, Kwara

Tinubu’s aide distributes food items to 1,750 persons in FCT, Kwara

Court grants senator accused of forging NYSC certificate ₦50m bail

Court grants senator accused of forging NYSC certificate ₦50m bail

Delta monarch declared wanted by military surrenders to police

Delta monarch declared wanted by military surrenders to police

Renowned Canada-based Nigerian playwright, Oguntokun is dead

Renowned Canada-based Nigerian playwright, Oguntokun is dead

Pulse Sports

Nigeria vs Mali: Has Finidi George done enough to land Super Eagles job permanently?

Nigeria vs Mali: Has Finidi George done enough to land Super Eagles job permanently?

I want to emulate Keshi and win the AFCON - Finidi George shares ambitious Super Eagles dream

I want to emulate Keshi and win the AFCON - Finidi George shares ambitious Super Eagles dream

Michelle Alozie: I had to do it because of African referees

Michelle Alozie: I had to do it because of African referees

AC Milan star reveals he was named after Super Eagles legend Tijani Babangida

AC Milan star reveals he was named after Super Eagles legend Tijani Babangida

Give him the job! Super Eagles fans beg NFF to make Finidi George permanent coach after Nigeria's win over Ghana

Give him the job! Super Eagles fans beg NFF to make Finidi George permanent coach after Nigeria's win over Ghana

Super Eagles 2-1 Black Stars: Nigerians praise Iwobi, Lookman, Finidi George after friendly victory against Ghana

Super Eagles 2-1 Black Stars: Nigerians praise Iwobi, Lookman, Finidi George after friendly victory against Ghana

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT