Misplaced Pages

Matt Lauer sexual misconduct allegations: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 15:37, 12 December 2017 editAtsme (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers42,804 edits Undid revision 815066869 by Volunteer Marek (talk) Stop your disruption. The article stays until the merge discussion has been finalized.Tag: Removed redirect← Previous edit Revision as of 15:39, 12 December 2017 edit undoJayron32 (talk | contribs)105,509 edits Undid revision 815067456 by Atsme (talk) Details of the merge have reached consensus and been implemented. Please stop edit warring and drop the stick here!Tag: New redirectNext edit →
Line 1: Line 1:
#REDIRECT ] {{R from merge}}
{{Afd-merge to|Matt Lauer|Matt Lauer sexual misconduct allegations|9 December 2017}}
]
] was fired from his position as the co-host of the ] show by ] on November 29, 2017, after network executives met a few days earlier with an unidentified woman who described his inappropriate interactions with her. NBC News chairman ] said they were "presented with reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident."<ref name=NYT-Gabler>{{cite news|last1=Gabler|first1=Ellen|last2=Rutenberg|first2=Jim|last3=Grynbaum|first3=Michael N.|last4=Abrams|first4=Rachel|title=NBC Receives at Least 2 New Complaints About Matt Lauer|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/29/business/media/nbc-matt-lauer.html|newspaper=]|date=November 29, 2017|accessdate=December 1, 2017}}</ref> A few days later, two more complaints surfaced, one of which came from an unnamed former employee who gave her account of the incident to '']''. The report said Lauer "summoned her to his office in 2001, locked the door and sexually assaulted her".<ref name=NYT-Gabler/> The day after Lauer's firing, his public relations team issued a message that he wrote expressing his sorrow, shame and regret. After Lauer's firing was made public, information surfaced that '']'' had been investigating sexual misconduct allegations against Lauer for two months.<ref name="LauerVariety">{{cite news|last1=Setoodeh|first1=Ramin|last2=Wagmeister|first2=Elizabeth|title=Matt Lauer Accused of Sexual Harassment by Multiple Women (EXCLUSIVE)|url=http://variety.com/2017/biz/news/matt-lauer-accused-sexual-harassment-multiple-women-1202625959/|magazine=]|date=November 29, 2017|accessdate=December 1, 2017}}</ref>

==Background==
On Monday, November 27, 2017, an unnamed female NBC employee complained to the network's human resources department. She alleged that Lauer had sexually harassed her during the ] in ], and that the harassment continued after they returned to New York.<ref name=USMag>{{cite news|author=Us Weekly staff|title=Matt Lauer Allegedly Sexually Harassed Colleague During 2014 Sochi Olympics|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/matt-lauer-allegedly-sexually-assaulted-colleague-during-2014-sochi-olympics-report/|magazine=]|date=November 29, 2017|accessdate=December 4, 2017}}</ref>

On Wednesday, two more complaints surfaced. One by a former employee who told '']'' about an incident that happened in 2001. She was in her early 40s at the time and had told her then husband what happened. She had also told a friend about the incident 5 years ago.<ref name=People>{{cite news|last=Corinthios|first=Aurelie|title=Everything We Know About the Allegations Against Matt Lauer|url=http://people.com/tv/matt-lauer-sexual-harassment-assault-allegation-breakdown/|magazine=]|publisher=Time Inc.|date=December 1, 2017|accessdate=December 4, 2017}}</ref> She claimed to have evidence proving she was not the only victim. She began working for NBC in the late 1990s as a producer for the ''Today'' show, which she alleges is when Lauer first started making inappropriate comments.<ref name=BI>{{cite news|last=Mark|first=Michelle|title=A former NBC employee has accused Matt Lauer of locking her in his office and sexually assaulting her during the workday|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/matt-lauer-accused-sexual-assaulting-nbc-employee-office-2017-11|website=]|date=November 30, 2017|accessdate=December 4, 2017}}</ref> She said Lauer summoned her to his office, and used a button under his desk to lock the door, then "asked her to unbutton her blouse, which she did, then pulled down her pants, bent her over a chair, and assaulted her. She said she eventually passed out, woke up on the floor of Lauer's office, and was taken to a nurse by Lauer's assistant."<ref name=BI/> After the incident, she said Lauer neither spoke of it nor made any advances toward her. She left NBC a year or so later. Her reason for waiting so long to report the assault was that she "felt helpless and ashamed", was fearful of losing her job, and thought "she could have done more to stop Lauer."<ref name=BI/>

==Two month investigation==
Elizabeth Wagmeister, a reporter with '']'', tweeted that for two months prior to Lauer's firing she had been investigating "serious sexual harassment allegations against Lauer".<ref name=CNN-Stelter>{{cite news|last1=Stelter|first1=Brian|last2=Kludt|first2=Tom|title=NBC fires Matt Lauer after complaint about 'inappropriate sexual behavior'|url=http://money.cnn.com/2017/11/29/media/matt-lauer/index.html|publisher=]|date=November 29, 2017|accessdate=December 1, 2017}}</ref> The investigation produced "dozens of interviews" with anonymous staffers, one of whom alleged that Lauer "once gave a colleague a sex toy with an explicit note about how he wanted to use it on her." There are also allegations of indecent exposure and other sexually explicit behavior.<ref name=ABC-Bauder>{{cite news|last=Bauder|first=David|title=Matt Lauer is fired at NBC, accused of crude misconduct|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/nbc-news-fires-matt-lauer-inappropriate-sexual-behavior-51454853|publisher=]|date=November 29, 2017|accessdate=December 1, 2017}}</ref>

The Variety investigation included several versions of Lauer's sexual misconduct reported by "current and former NBC News staffers as well as three women who identified themselves as victims of sexual harassment by the anchor".<ref name=Variety>{{cite news|last=Steinberg|first=Brian|title=Matt Lauer Responds to Harassment Claims: ‘There Is Enough Truth in These Stories’|url=http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/matt-lauer-statement-today-sexual-harassment-1202626847/|magazine=Variety|date=November 30, 2017|accessdate=December 4, 2017}}</ref> Interviews revealed that Lauer "was known around the NBC newsroom for being preoccupied with sexual topics", made lewd comments about wanting to have sex with female co-hosts, and that he had been "engaging in crude and cruel behavior toward subordinates over a period of years."<ref name=USAToday>{{cite news|last=Puente|first=Maria|title=After Matt Lauer firing, NBC chief Andy Lack faces more questions about a network in crisis|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2017/11/30/after-matt-lauer-firing-nbc-chief-andy-lack-faces-more-questions-network-crisis/906906001/|newspaper=]|date=November 30, 2017|accessdate=December 5, 2017}}</ref>

==NBC investigation==
NBC News executives were aware that there were two news sources that had been investigating Lauer's sexual misconduct weeks before allegations were made by the first female employee.<ref name=NBC-Gosk>{{cite news|last1=Gosk|first1=Stephanie|last2=Siemaszko|first2=Corky|last3=Rappleye|first3=Hannah|title=Matt Lauer denied sex misconduct to NBC officials before scandal broke|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/sexual-misconduct/nbc-news-conducting-review-after-matt-lauer-sex-misconduct-scandal-n825716|publisher=NBC News|date=December 1, 2017|accessdate=December 4, 2017}}</ref> They launched an investigation of their own and were unable to find any prior sexual misconduct complaints or settlements that were made on behalf of Lauer. NBC News president Noah Oppenheim and chairman Andy Lack questioned Lauer directly about his sexual misconduct, and he denied it. After the firing, a network executive said Lauer would not receive any form of monetary settlement because he was fired “for cause”.<ref name=NBC-Gosk/> His now terminated $25-million-a-year contract was supposed to run through the end of 2018.<ref name=WaPo>{{cite news|last=Farhi|first=Paul|title=NBC: Lauer said he was ‘racking his brain’ but came up blank when asked about harassment|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/nbc-lauer-said-he-was-racking-his-brain-but-came-up-blank-when-asked-about-harassment/2017/12/01/23fc8a52-d6ed-11e7-a986-d0a9770d9a3e_story.html?utm_term=.885a29e9264e|newspaper=]|date=December 1, 2017|accessdate=December 4, 2017}}</ref>

==''Today'' show announcement==
On November 29, 2017 Lauer's colleagues, ] and ], reported his firing on NBC's '']'' show. Guthrie said she was "heartbroken for her colleague who came forward to tell her story", and while appearing to fight back tears, called Lauer her "friend who is beloved by many at NBC."<ref name=NBC-Ortiz>{{cite news|last1=Ortiz|first1=Erik|last2=Siemaszko|first2=Corky|title=NBC News fires Matt Lauer after sexual misconduct review|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/sexual-misconduct/nbc-news-fires-today-anchor-matt-lauer-after-sexual-misconduct-n824831|publisher=]|date=November 30, 2017|accessdate=December 1, 2017}}</ref><ref name=CBS-AP>{{cite news|title=Matt Lauer on sexual misconduct allegations: "I am truly sorry"|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/matt-lauer-sexual-misconduct-apology-sochi-olympics/|agency=]|publisher=CBS Interactive Inc.|date=November 30, 2017|accessdate=December 4, 2017}}</ref>

The announcement was made on the day Lauer was supposed to co-host the NBC special, "Christmas in Rockefeller Center", which features the annual tree-lighting ceremony in Manhattan with ], Kotb and Guthrie.<ref name=ABC-Bauder/>

===Lauer response===
Lauer's personal publicist released his statement which was incorporated into the November 29, 2017 ''Today'' show broadcast:

<blockquote>“There are no words to express my sorrow and regret for the pain I have caused others by words and actions. To the people I have hurt, I am truly sorry. As I am writing this I realize the depth of the damage and disappointment I have left behind at home and at NBC. Some of what is being said about me is untrue or mischaracterized, but there is enough truth in these stories to make me feel embarrassed and ashamed. I regret that my shame is now shared by the people I cherish dearly, Repairing the damage will take a lot of time and soul searching and I’m committed to beginning that effort. It is now my full time job. The last two days have forced me to take a very hard look at my own troubling flaws. It’s been humbling. I am blessed to be surrounded by the people I love. I thank them for their patience and grace.”<ref name=Variety/></blockquote>

==Reaction==
*NBC was praised by Ari Wilkenfeld, attorney for the first accuser to come forward, for their quick response to Lauer's "egregious acts of sexual harassment and misconduct."<ref name=CBS-AP/>

*In ]'s memo about the firing, he said, "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."<ref name=CBS-AP/>

*Media sources brought attention to old ''Today'' segments where Lauer engaged in questionable behavior towards women.<ref name=FoxNewsBullock>{{cite news|last1=Joyce|first1=Kathleen|last2=Mallenbaum|title=Matt Lauer to Sandra Bullock in 2009 interview: 'I have seen you naked'|url=http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2017/12/01/matt-lauer-to-sandra-bullock-in-2009-interview-have-seen-naked.html|publisher=]|date=December 1, 2017|accessdate=December 3, 2017}}</ref><ref name=USATodayMoments>{{cite news|last1=Mallenbaum|first1=Carly|title=Awkward Matt Lauer TV moments resurface in wake of firing|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2017/11/29/matt-lauer-fired-hathaway-awkward/906536001/|newspaper=USA Today|date=November 29, 2017|accessdate=December 3, 2017}}</ref><ref name=DailyBeastMoments>{{cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/matt-lauers-history-of-creepy-today-show-moments|title=Matt Lauer’s History of Creepy ‘Today’ Show Moments|last1=Willstein |first1=Matt|date=November 29, 2017|accessdate=December 3, 2017|website=]}}</ref> Of particular note was a 2012 interview with actress ] where he asks her repeatedly about ] photographs of her that had recently surfaced in the tabloids and a 2009 interview with actress ] where he keeps bringing up a nude scene in her upcoming film '']'' throughout the course of the interview; in both interviews Lauer's questions make the actresses visibly uncomfortable.<ref name=USATodayMoments /><ref name=FoxNewsBullock /> In a 2012 interview of former ''Today'' co-host ] by ], Couric claimed that Lauer's most annoying habit was the way "he pinches me on the ass a lot".<ref name=DailyBeastMoments /><ref name=USATodayMoments />

*'']'' published an October 2006 video in which Lauer told then co-host ] to "Keep bending over like that, it's a nice view" while she picked up a script during a commercial break.<ref>{{cite web|title=MATT LAUER Told Meredith On Camera ...'KEEP BENDING OVER, NICE VIEW'|url=http://www.tmz.com/2017/11/29/matt-lauer-katie-couric-keep-bending-over-nice-view/|website=]|date=November 29, 2017|accessdate=December 5, 2017}}</ref>

*], an outspoken advocate against sexual harassment, said "What we don't see is the pain on the faces of those who found the courage to come forward, and it is still a terrifying thing to do." <ref name=CBS-AP/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Revision as of 15:39, 12 December 2017

Redirect to:

  • From a merge: This is a redirect from a page that was merged into another page. This redirect was kept in order to preserve the edit history of this page after its content was merged into the content of the target page. Please do not remove the tag that generates this text (unless the need to recreate content on this page has been demonstrated) or delete this page.