USA TODAY International Edition
Accuser Nevils says Lauer is victim blaming
Brooke Nevils, the previously unnamed former NBC News employee whose 2017 complaint led to Matt Lauer getting fired from his job on the “Today” show nearly two years ago, is standing her ground after coming forward with a new rape allegation, calling Lauer’s response a “case study in victim blaming.”
Variety reported late Tuesday that Ronan Farrow’s Oct. 15 book “Catch and Kill” reveals a new allegation from Nevils. Variety reports that the book includes a claim he raped her at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
In a lengthy letter provided by his lawyer to Variety, Lauer denied the allegations and painted the picture of an accusation full of contradictions. He said he has shied away until now from speaking out on the “false and salacious allegations” against him to protect his children.
“I have never assaulted anyone or forced anyone to have sex. Period,” Lauer wrote. “My silence has been a mistake. Old stories are being recycled, titillating details are being added, and a dangerous and defamatory new allegation is being made. All are being spread as part of a promotional effort to sell a book. It’s outrageous. So, after not speaking out to protect my children, it is now with their full support I say ‘ enough.’ ”
In a statement to USA TODAY, Nevils said she asked NBC to thoroughly investigate her allegations and to give Lauer “the opportunity to defend himself.” She also said she provided “dates, times, evidence of communications and corroborating accounts” to back up her accusations and “both NBC and Farrow found me credible.”