NBC fires Matt Lauer after complaint about ‘inappropriate sexual behavior’

Longtime ‘Today’ show anchor Matt Lauer has been fired from NBC News after the company received a detailed complaint from an employee about inappropriate sexual behaviour.

Lauer’s former co-host Savannah Guthrie made the announcement during the show Wednesday morning. Guthrie read a memo that was sent to employees from NBC News Chairman Andrew Lack.

“On Monday night, we received a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace by Matt Lauer. It represented, after serious review, a clear violation of our company’s standards,” Lack says in the memo. “While it is the first complaint about his behavior 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.”

Guthrie said she was informed moments before going on the air. “This is a sad morning at ‘Today’ and NBC News,” she said. “As I’m sure you can understand, we are devastated. I’m heartbroken for Matt. He is my dear, dear colleague.” Guthrie also said she was heartbroken for the brave colleague who came forward with the complaint.