Shocking and scandalous new details have emerged regarding the biggest entertainment news story of the day.
Of the entire week, at least.
Perhaps of the year, even.
As previously reported, longtime NBC network fixture and fan favorite Matt Lauer was fired as co-host of The Today Show this morning.
This unexpected turn of events followed a "complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace."
NBC News Chairman Andrew Lack confirmed his dismissal.
After reading a statement from Lack on air this morning, a visibly shaken Savannah Guthrie said she didn’t have any more information on the stunning scandal.
Lauer’s long-time co-host said, adding:
"I will tell you right now we do not know more than what I just shared with you, but we will be covering this story as reporters, as journalists."
"We are heartbroken. I’m heartbroken for Matt…"
"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."
This really is a crazy and sad time in America.
But it’s hopefully a positive development for the long-term. If nothing else, victims are more empowered to come forward than ever before.
Let’s hope that having men such as Lauer, Kevin Spacey and Louis C.K. exposed as sexual predators and/or harassers will inspire victims everywhere.
As they continue to speak out, and perpetrators continue to be punished, the prevalence of these types of situations may drastically decrease.
At least that’s what we hope. But back to Lauer…
Sources have told The New York Post that he’s accused of sexually assaulting a female NBC staffer during the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014.
Various outlets, such as The New York Times, were reportedly working on a story about this allegation as well.
When NBC executives learned the accusation would be made public, they attempted to get in front of the articles by proactively letting Lauer go.
An NBC insider tells Page Six that Lauer’s alleged victim complained to HR on Monday.
“This happened so quickly. She didn’t go to the media, she made a complaint to NBC’s human resources, and her evidence was so compelling that Matt was fired on Tuesday night.
"The victim says she has evidence that this has also happened to other women, but so far we don’t have evidence of that.”
Even with this new piece of intel, it remains unclear just what Lauer is accused of doing with this employee.
Based on NBC’s decision, however, it is not something anyone should take lightly.
In response to the news, celebrities from across television, music and movies have spoken out on Lauer and the ongoing issue of sexual misconduct in Hollywood in general.
Tweeted Corey Feldman:
"HMMMMM INTERESTING…..THIS MIGHT EXPLAIN THE HOSTILE INTERVIEW WHILE I WAS TRYING 2 EXPOSE THE #TRUTH….EH MATT?"
And Rose McGowan:
"Don’t let the door hit you on the way out, Matt Lauer."
And Kathy Griffin:
"Matt Lauer has been on my list for a while. It’s really too bad more Americans don’t come to my shows. I pretty much recite the list in every show."
Griffin continued, awkwardly: "Haha. I told you, my memory is long, my friends. I’ve been around a long time."
And Bette Midler added:
"Matt? Lauer? You’re joking? Right? Men have dropped their…oh, what’s the use."
Hoda Kotb, meanwhile, sat in Lauer’s chair alongside Guthrie today and said the following:
“It’s hard to reconcile with what we are hearing with the man who we know, who walks in this building every single day.
"We were both woken up with the news, kind of pre-dawn, and we’re trying to process it and trying to make sense of it – and it’ll take some time for that."
We’ll continue to update this story as more and more news breaks.
