News

US’s best known breakfast TV host fired for sexual misconduct

US television journalist and host of the Today Show, Matt Lauer, has been fired from NBC News after 20 years following a sexual misconduct investigation.

As reported in NBC News, Lauer was dismissed after a detailed complaint from a colleague was submitted to the news outlet detailing the anchor’s inappropriate sexual behaviour during the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Announcing Lauer’s dismissal on air, co-hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb expressed their sadness, saying: “This is a sad morning today and at NBC News, just moments ago NBC Chairman Andy Lack sent the following note to our organisation.”

Lauer was reportedly on a $20 million dollar a year contract as co-host of NBC’s Today Show which is locked in a battle with rival ABC’s Good Morning America for the national breakfast timeslot.

In November, Good Morning America won the overall audience but Today won the key 25-54 year old demographic.

An internal note sent to staff announcing Lauer’s dismissal was also read out on air.

“Dear colleagues, on Monday night, we received a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behaviour in the workplace by Matt Lauer.

“It represented, after serious review, a clear violation of our company’s standards. As a result we’ve decided to terminate his employment.

“While it is the first complaint about his behaviour in the over twenty years he’s been at NBC News, we were also presented with reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident.

“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.

“We are deeply saddened by this turn of events.”

The complaint also noted the inappropriate sexual behaviour continued after the Olympics.

Lauer’s dismissal comes just one day after Garrison Keillor was fired by Minnesota Public Radio for “inappropriate behaviour” after allegations relating to inappropriate behaviour with a fellow colleague.

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