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PEOPLE & ARTS Thursday 30 November 2017
NBC News fires Matt Lauer over inappropriate sexual behavior

By DAVID BAUDER had steadied with his pair- past few weeks,” she said.
AP Media Writer ing with Guthrie. The show “How do you reconcile
NEW YORK (AP) — NBC runs for four hours, with Lau- your love for someone with
News fired longtime “To- er and Guthrie hosting the the revelation that they
day” show host Matt Lauer first two. have behaved badly? I
on Wednesday for “inap- He joins a lengthening list don’t know the answer to
propriate sexual behavior,” of media figures felled by that. But I do know that this
making him the second sexual misconduct charg- reckoning that so many or-
morning television show es this year. Besides Rose, ganizations have been go-
personality to lose his job they include Lauer’s former ing through is important, it’s
because of sexual miscon- NBC News colleague Mark long overdue and it must
duct charges in a week. Halperin, former Fox News result in workplaces where
Lauer’s co-host Savan- prime-time host Bill O’Reilly all women, all people, feel
nah Guthrie made the an- and National Public Radio safe and respected.”
nouncement at the top newsroom chief Michael Two hours later, NBC’s
of Wednesday’s “Today” Oreskes. The New York Megyn Kelly noted the
show. Last week, CBS News Times suspended White anguish on the faces of In this April 21, 2016, file photo, Matt Lauer, co-host of the NBC
fired Charlie Rose after House correspondent her colleagues but said, “Today” television program, appears on set in Rockefeller Plaza,
complaints from several Glenn Thrush last week. “what we don’t see is the in New York. Associated Press
women who worked for Messages to Lauer and his pain on the faces of those covered the issue aggres- said “Wow, Matt Lauer was
him. agent were not immedi- who found the courage to sively on the third hour of just fired from NBC for ‘in-
NBC News Chairman An- ately returned. come forward, and it is still “Today,” helping stabilize appropriate sexual behav-
drew Lack said the network Lack, in his memo, said that a terrifying thing to do.” her hour of the program af- ior in the workplace.’ But
had received a complaint “we are deeply saddened Kelly, who has written about ter it got off to a rocky start when will the top execu-
from a colleague on Mon- by this turn of events. But being sexually harassed this fall. tives at NBC & Comcast
day night, but gave no de- we will face it together as by former boss Roger Ailes On Twitter Wednesday, be fired for putting out so
tails of the alleged miscon- a news organization — and at Fox News Channel, has President Donald Trump much Fake News.”q
duct. A review determined do it in as transparent a
it was a clear violation of manner as we can.” There
company standards, he were reports that, before
said. It was the first com- the firing, some media or-
plaint lodged against Lau- ganizations were looking
er, but Lack said in a memo into Lauer’s behavior. The
to staff that “we were also morning host is married with
presented with reason to three children.
believe this may not have Guthrie co-hosted Wednes-
been an isolated incident.” day’s show with Hoda Kotb,
Lauer, 59, has hosted “To- who said both of them
day” for two decades. were awakened with the
When paired with Katie news Wednesday morning.
Couric, “Today” was the Guthrie appeared to fight
longtime ratings leader back tears as she called
and was highly lucrative for Lauer her friend who is be-
NBC. It now runs second in loved by many at NBC, and
the ratings to ABC’s “Good said she was “heartbro-
Morning America.” ken for my colleague who
Many “Today” show view- came forward to tell her
ers took out their anger for story and any other women
the unsightly 2012 firing of who have their own stories
co-host Ann Curry on Lauer, to tell.
sending the show plunging “We are grappling with
in the ratings. But NBC stuck a dilemma that so many
with Lauer and the show people have faced these