“Today” show co-host Matt Lauer has been fired from NBC due to inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace.
Lauer's co-anchor Savannah Guthrie was joined by Hoda Kotb to announce the news Wednesday morning on "Today."
"This is a sad morning here at 'Today' and at NBC News," Guthrie said before reading a note from NBC News chairman Andy Lack.
Img_src: twiter
"Dear colleges, on Monday night, we received a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace by Matt Lauer," Lack's statement read. "It represented, after serious review, a clear violation of our company's standards. As a result, we've decided to terminate his employment."
The statement said this is the first complaint regarding Lauer's behavior the company has received "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," the statement said.
Lack said NBC's "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."
An emotional Guthrie admitted "we just learned this moments ago" and said the "Today" team is "devastated and we are still processing all of this."
"All we can say is that we are heartbroken. I'm heartbroken for Matt. He is my dear, dear friend and my partner and he is beloved by many, many people here. And I'm heartbroken for the brave colleague who came forward to tell her story and any other women who have their own women to tell."
With Kotb at her side, Guthrie said NBC will be "covering this story as reporters" and will share more details "in the hours and days to come."
President Trump chimed in on Lauer's firing on Twitter as the news broke.
img src : twiter
