The wave of sexual assault and harassment allegations in the entertainment business has engulfed one of its more high profile personalities to date.
Viewers tuning in to see The Today Show on Wednesday got a shock instead of a familiar face. Matt Lauer, one of the hosts of NBC’s morning show since 1994, was fired from the show for what was called “inappropriate sexual behavior” at work.
Lauer’s co-hosts announced the stunning news on the air, explaining that the victim of the alleged behavior only came forward this week. Though it was only the first person to make a complaint about Lauer in his 20-plus years at NBC, hosts on rival morning show Good Morning America reported that the chairman of NBC News, Andrew Lack, said there was “reason to believe” it was not an isolated incident.
NBC News also reported Lauer’s firing itself, with an additional statement from Lack.
"“Our highest priority is to create a workplace environment where everyone feels safe and protected, and to ensure that any actions that run counter to our core values are met with consequences, no matter who the offender.”"
Lauer was one of the highest paid and most well-known TV news personalities on network TV. After getting his start with NBC via an affiliate in New York City, he first started working on The Today Show as a fill-in newsreader in 1992 before moving up to substitute anchor a few years later and full-fledged co-host in 1997. Though known for the morning show, he has also conducted a number of important interviews for NBC News during his time there and even featured on coverage of several Olympics for the network.
While certainly not the first person to be swept up by the recent climate of sexual harassment and assault claims in the industry, Lauer’s firing is one of the most sudden, and will have a serious impact on NBC as it reshuffles The Today Show and its news efforts. More details on his termination are sure to be on the way in the weeks to come.