NBC: ‘No evidence’ top executives were aware of Lauer’s alleged misconduct

An NBC internal investigation of former “Today” host Matt Lauer has concluded there was “no evidence” that senior executives at the network were aware of Lauer’s long history of alleged workplace sexual harassment until a complaint emerged about him in November.

The findings, based on interviews with 70 current and former employees over five months, were released Wednesday. The sevenpage report drew immediate criticism from outside groups and advocates who said the network’s investigation lacked independence.

Lauer was fired in November after an unidentified colleague filed a formal complaint alleging inappropriate sexual behavior. Three other women subsequently made allegations against him.

Some of the women told Variety they complained about him to senior managers, but that the allegations were ignored. The Washington Post reported last month that Lauer’s former “Today” co-host Ann Curry said she approached two members of NBC’s management team in 2012 after a female staffer told her she was “sexually harassed physically” by Lauer.

The network confirmed in its investigation that four women complained about Lauer. But it explicitly contradicted Lauer’s accusers, saying senior managers became aware of concerns about him only last fall.

The report said the first formal complaint about Lauer was made by an unidentified employee on Nov. 22. She alleged in an internal interview a week later that Lauer had engaged in “inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace.”

Lauer admitted to the alleged behavior during an interview with NBC’s legal and human-resources staff on Nov. 28, the report said. He was fired that day.

Three more employees subsequently came forward with complaints, according to the investigation, which dated these allegations to 2000, 2001 and 2007.