Katie Couric Breaks Silence About Matt Lauer's Departure From 'Today' Calling the Situation 'Disturbing, Distressing, and Disorienting'

According to Variety, Katie Couric has made her first public statement to People Magazine regarding Matt Lauer's departure from NBC's Today Show. As BroadwayWorld previously reported, NBC News fired longtime Today anchor Matt Lauer after an employee filed a complaint about "inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace." The announcement was made by Savannah Guthrie at the beginning of the morning broadcast on November 29, 2017. Lauer had served as anchor of the show for two decades.

Couric told People that the ordeal has been "painful" for her. "The accounts I've read and heard have been disturbing, distressing and disorienting and it's completely unacceptable that any woman at THE TODAY SHOW experienced this kind of treatment."

She also maintains that she was completely unaware of any incidents taking place during her time on the show, from 1991 to 2006. She says that Lauer was "a kind and generous colleague who treated me with respect."

Lauer made a statement following the allegations, apologizing and stating "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."

Read more here.

Katie Couric is an American journalist and author. She recently served as Yahoo! Global News Anchor. Couric has been a television host on all Big Three television networks in the United States, and in her early career was an Assignment Editor for CNN. She worked for NBC News from 1989 to 2006, CBS News from 2006 to 2011, and ABC News from 2011 to 2014. In addition to her television news roles, she hosted Katie, a Syndicated daytime talk show produced by Disney-ABC Domestic Television from September 10, 2012, to June 9, 2014. Some of her most important notable roles include co-host of Today, anchor of the CBS Evening News, and correspondent for 60 Minutes. She also reported for nearly every television news broadcast across ABC, CBS and NBC. Couric's 2011 book, The Best Advice I Ever Got: Lessons from Extraordinary Lives, was a New York Times best-seller. In 2004, Couric earned induction into the Television Hall of Fame.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride

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