ALLEGED MISDEEDS FURTHER STAIN NBC
Lauer accusations place net under fire again
NBC is once again under fire after accusations surfaced that the Peacock network may have been ignoring allegations against Matt Lauer — the $25 million-a-year host of the “Today” show who was abruptly fired yesterday for “inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace.”
While NBC News told staffers that it fired Lauer less than two days after a woman and her attorney came forward with allegations against him, reports surfaced that network higher-ups had ignored complaints in the past.
Variety published a powerful account outlining alleged sexual misconduct between Lauer and at least three women over several years. The report said the women “complained to executives at the network about Lauer’s behavior, which fell on deaf ears given the lucrative advertising surrounding ‘Today.’ ”
The article accused Lauer of buying a colleague a sex toy as a present and saying he wanted to use it on her. In a separate incident, Lauer is accused of exposing himself for another employee and reprimanding her “for not engaging in a sexual act.”
Two women also told Variety that Lauer had a button under his desk that allowed him to lock the door without getting up so that he could “initiate inappropriate contact while knowing nobody could walk in on him.”
Multiple spokespeople for NBC did not respond to repeated requests for comment on Lauer and the Variety piece. A company spokesman did provide a comment
Women ‘complained to executives at the network about Lauer’s behavior, which fell on deaf ears given the lucrative advertising surrounding “Today”.’ — ACCORDING TO VARIETY
to NBC News.
“We can say unequivocally, that, prior to Monday night, current NBC News management was never made aware of any complaints about Matt Lauer’s conduct,” the spokesman said.
In a memo sent to employees early yesterday, NBC News Chairman Andrew Lack said the complaint relayed to the company on Monday resulted in quick action because it showed a “clear violation of our company’s standards.”
Meanwhile, NBC received at least two more complaints related to Lauer, according to a report in the New York Times.
The scandal surrounding Lauer — the happy face of NBC’s familyfriendly morning show — is the latest embarrassment to rock 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
The network last month declined to run Ronan Farrow’s investigation into Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein’s alleged sexual assaults, forcing Farrow to pop the explosive exclusive in The New Yorker.
NBC was also scooped on its own 2005 “Access Hollywood” tape showing Donald Trump making lewd remarks about grabbing women’s genitals to host Billy Bush. The tape was leaked to The Washington Post, which reported the story well before NBC. And Bush, who also worked for the “Today” show, was handed his walking papers by NBC.