NBC probe: No idea Matt was a sleaze
AN INTERNAL NBC investigation found senior executives had no knowledge of Matt Lauer’s sexual misconduct prior to his firing, the network said Wednesday.
But several staffers reported that they received sexual overtures from Lauer — and one manager failed to tell higher-ups after learning that the star anchor touched an underling’s thigh and made a “sexually suggestive” remark, the report says.
The probe, based on interviews with 68 people, was launched after the famed “Today” host was fired for “inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace” on Nov. 29.
The long-awaited report said Lauer admitted on Nov. 28 to engaging in sexual activity with a woman. The woman had alerted NBC News managers the previous day. Three additional current or former NBC employees came forward within the next two weeks, accusing Lauer of subjecting them to inappropriate sexual behavior at work.
The incidents took place in 2000, 2001 and 2007.
“All four women who came forward confirmed that they did not tell their direct manager or anyone else in a position of authority about their sexual encounters with Lauer,” the report says.