Amidst Lurid Accusations Matt Lauer Issues An Apology; Network Denies Prior Knowledge
- Details
- Category: World News
- Published on Thursday, 30 November 2017 07:24
- Written by Janet Walker
Defrocked NBC Today host Matt Lauer issued an apology to his victims, family, friends, and network, one day after the network terminated the twenty-year veteran over substantiated allegations of sexual misconduct, rape, and other inappropriate actions.
NBC Newsgroup Chairman Andrew Lack, said in a memo released yesterday, he had received a "detailed complaint" regarding Lauer, 59, that included allegations of rape at the Sochi Olympics in 2014, and had "reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident."
By the end of the day Tuesday, allegations from several media investigations painted a very different picture of the once lauded anchor indicating multiple allegations of on-location rape, gifting staffers with sex toys and explicit notes, dropping his pants exposing his penis, playing the "Fuck, Marry, Kill" game which targets women, labeling them with those distinctions, and modifying his office door to lock from his desk.
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By Wednesday morning, the network had received several other complaints regarding Lauer's inappropriate, alarming and criminal behavior.
Even as NBC Newsgroup Chairman Lack has stated, "it is the first complaint about his behavior in the over twenty years he's been at NBC News," NBC has been known to bury complaints filed against high level talent.
Stating the network has a culture of cover up may be somewhat inaccurate as only two serial sex offenders have been exposed, which may simply mean the repeated allegations from accusers of Bill Cosby and Matt Lauer were independently buried without management ever being informed.
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Lauer issued the following statement.
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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. |
And visions of a ratings blockbuster interview danced through my head.
