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Matt Lauer Out At NBC News: How Twitter Is Weighing In

Posted byBy Kiersten Willis | Published on: CommentsComments (0)

Matt Lauer is out at the “Today Show” and NBC News over sexual misconduct allegations. The Peacock Network’s news chairman Andy Lack sent a memo Wednesday, Nov. 29 and Lauer’s former co-anchor Savannah Guthrie delivered the news alongside Hoda Kotb this morning.

“For the moment, all we can say is that we are heartbroken,” said Guthrie, who joined Lauer at the “Today” desk in 2012. “I’m heartbroken for Matt, he is my dear, dear friend and my partner … and I’m heartbroken for the brave colleague who came forward to tell her story and any other women who have their own stories to tell.”

Kotb added it was a “very tough morning for both of us.” She noted she has known Lauer for 15 years and that she and Guthrie were alerted to the news “kind of predawn.”

“On Monday night, we received a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace by Matt Lauer,” Lack’s memo read. “It represented, after serious review, a clear violation of our company’s standards. As a result, we’ve decided to terminate his employment. … we were also presented with reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident.”

According to a Variety reporter, NBC News knew the trade publication was working on a story detailing “serious sexual harassment allegations” against the veteran NBC anchor.

The New York Times had also been working on a similar story, according to a CNN reporter.

In addition, an NBC source told Page Six Lauer allegedly sexually assaulted a female network staffer in 2014 during the Sochi Winter Olympics.

The Sexual Assault Fallout Continues

Michelle Obama Sounds Off on Sexual Assault Scandal As Task Force Is Launched

Russell Simmons Tells Terry Crews to Give Agent ‘a Pass’ In Sexual Assault Allegations Before His Own Come to Light

Fans Reportedly Boo Chris Rock Over Sexual Assault Jokes

The news has taken Twitter by storm, with trending topic surrounding the bombshell ticking on timelines for the last hour.

Some reacted seriously…

https://twitter.com/iimaniDAVID/status/935867126379962369

https://twitter.com/realfacade1/status/935861838285242369

And others responded with humorous speculation about former NBC News anchors and “Today Show” hosts — and Lauer himself.

https://twitter.com/WeepyWelshWitch/status/935850396773486593

https://twitter.com/SPRinNYC/status/935860217702764544

https://twitter.com/StephenCourson/status/935856834698797057

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