Matt Lauer Has Broken His Silence on Sexual Harassment Allegations
Following his swift termination from NBC’s Today, Matt Lauer has broken his silence about sexual harassment allegations that have been brought forward against him.
Taking the form of a statement read by Savannah Guthrie at the start of Thursday morning’s broadcast, Lauer’s remarks acknowledged and apologized for some, but not all, of his reported behavior:
“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. As I am writing this I realize the depth of the damage
and disappointment I have left behind at home and at NBC. Some of what
is being said about me is untrue or mischaracterized, but there is
enough truth in these stories to make me feel embarrassed and ashamed.
I regret that my shame is now shared by the people I cherish dearly.
Repairing the damage will take a lot of time and soul searching and
I’m committed to beginning that effort. It is now my full time job.
The last two days have forced me to take a very hard look at my own
troubling flaws. It’s been humbling. I am blessed to be surrounded by
the people I love. I thank them for their patience and grace.”
On Wednesday, Guthrie and fellow co-host Hoda Kotb began Today with an announcement that Lauer had been fired following “a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace.” Though NBC News Chairman Andy Lack told employees that it was the first complaint of this nature to be filed against the former anchor, “we were also presented with reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident.”
Not long after news broke, Variety published a shocking report detailing Lauer’s alleged sexual harassment—which included gifting a sex toy to one female coworker (alongside a note detailing how he planned to use it on her) and installing a button under his desk that could lock his door remotely (one that he reportedly used to keep women in his office without fear of interruption).
The New York Times further reported that at least two additional women filed complaints with NBC following Lauer’s termination—including one woman who said that he sexually assaulted her in his office in 2001.