As Freddie Mercury sang, another one bites the dust.
“Today” show host Matt Lauer has been fired following allegations of sexual misconduct. The decision was made late last night, but only this morning was a memo sent around at NBC to confirm the firing.
NBC News has more information: “In a memo to employees sent Wednesday morning, NBC News Chairman Andrew Lack said the complaint, which was made by a colleague of Lauer’s, prompted a serious review and represented a ‘clear violation of our company’s standards.'”
Lauer’s former co-hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb gave a statement this morning on the abrupt firing, saying they don’t know the exact details of the allegation.
JUST IN: NBC News has fired long-time TODAY Show host Matt Lauer over inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace. pic.twitter.com/MY7U7o5JDi
— CBS News (@CBSNews) November 29, 2017
Now we’re just learning details of what might have happened. Page Six reports the offense may have occurred during coverage of the 2016 Rio Olympics. Here are the details:
A source told Page Six, “An NBC staffer come forward with a claim that Matt sexually assaulted her at the Olympics. There have been rumors about Matt having affairs with subordinates at NBC for years, but those were believed to be consensual. This incident in Rio was not.”
According to CNN, reporters from the New York Times and for Variety have been digging up dirt on Lauer for months. Brian Stetler writes, “Reporters for The New York Times have been investigating Lauer for weeks, according to sources who had been contacted by the Times. And Variety’s New York bureau chief Ramin Setoodeh said he and his colleagues have been doing reporting ‘about serious sexual harassment allegations against Lauer’ for two months. ‘There were multiple victims,’ Setoodeh said.”
Multiple victims? I doubt this will be the last we hear of Lauer’s transgressions. As with other high-profile busts like Senator Al Franken and Rep. John Conyers, expect more women to come forward with their stories.
President Trump responded to the shocking news this morning with a cryptic message:
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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 29, 2017
Andy Lack? I guess journalists will have their day busy looking into him.
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