On June 20, the TODAY show celebrated a major milestone—25 years in Studio 1A in New York City. But as they rolled out a nostalgic montage of the past quarter-century, one familiar face was conspicuously absent: Matt Lauer. Let’s dive into why the disgraced former anchor was left out of the celebration.
A Look Back at TODAY's 25-Year Journey in Studio 1A
The TODAY show aired a five-and-a-half-minute clip filled with highlights, bloopers, and memorable moments featuring the program’s hosts over the years. But fans quickly noticed that Matt Lauer, who had been a prominent figure on the show for decades, was nowhere to be found in the retrospective. There's a reason behind this deliberate omission, and it’s tied to a dark chapter in the show’s history.
When TODAY first moved to Studio 1A in 1994, it became a place where the team could try new things and connect with viewers.
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— TODAY (@TODAYshow) June 20, 2019
The Fallout from Matt Lauer's Scandal
Back in November 2017, the world was rocked by revelations that Matt Lauer had been accused of sexually harassing a colleague. This wasn’t just a one-off incident; investigations uncovered a pattern of inappropriate behavior that had allegedly been going on for years. His coanchor at the time, Savannah Guthrie, addressed the situation with a heavy heart during the live broadcast.
“This is a sad morning for us at TODAY show and at NBC News,” Savannah said, her voice tinged with emotion. “Just moments ago, NBC chairman Andy Lack sent the following note to our organization: ‘On Monday night, we received a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace by Matt Lauer. After a thorough review, we determined this to be a clear violation of our company’s standards. As a result, we’ve decided to terminate his employment. While this is the first complaint about his behavior in over twenty years, we were also presented with reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident.’”
Hoda Kotb Steps In
Following Matt’s departure, Hoda Kotb stepped up to fill his shoes, effectively ending his tenure on the show. Despite the public fallout, some of Matt’s former colleagues have maintained a connection with him. Hoda Kotb, who worked closely with Matt for years, spoke candidly about their complicated relationship in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
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“We keep in touch with him. Look, this is one of those complex situations,” Hoda admitted. “I’ve known him since I started working at NBC. When I was battling breast cancer, he was the first person to call me. He helped me in ways that were truly incredible. There’s that side of Matt—the compassionate, supportive friend—and then there’s the side that the accusers speak of.”
As for what’s next for Matt, sources suggest a TV comeback is unlikely. “Matt shouldn’t be picky, but the few offers he’s received have been embarrassing,” a source told In Touch Weekly. “He’s gotten some random web show offers, but that’s not something he’s going to do. If he accepted a web series, he’d face even more negative press.”
