Remember Matt Lauer? NBC Doesn't Want You To, Erases His Memory in 25th Anniversary Montage
On Thursday, NBC celebrated the 25th anniversary of Studio 1A in Rockefeller Center, New York, with a retrospective montage of its history.
However, one high-profile individual was clearly missing — disgraced former news anchor Matt Lauer.
In November 2017, NBC fired the “Today” show host over multiple claims of sexual harassment. Now, it appears the broadcasting network has officially scrubbed him from the record, as his presence was nowhere to be found in their compilation of Studio 1A memories, according to NewsBusters.
According to a 2017 exposé by Variety, Lauer had a secret button on his desk that would automatically lock the door without having to leave his chair.
“His office was in a secluded space, and he had a button under his desk that allowed him to lock his door from the inside without getting up. This afforded him the assurance of privacy. It allowed him to welcome female employees and initiate inappropriate contact while knowing nobody could walk in on him,” Variety said, reiterating the testimony of two unnamed women.
The report also said that Lauer presented a sex toy to one of his female colleagues. Not surprisingly, the woman was appalled by the gift and even more so by the attached note, in which Lauer expressed that he wanted to use it on her.
At one point, Lauer allegedly went as far as dropping his pants — and underwear — after a female employee he asked to visit his office had walked in. After declining his advances and being visibly mortified, the anchor rebuked her for not fulfilling his sexual wishes.
These are a few of the reasons why NBC likely didn’t include Lauer — who had been part of the “Today” show since 1994 — in the company’s montage.
Before NBC began the compilation, “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie acted as if a massive part of their history wasn’t removed, saying, “So, we’re going to start our celebration with a look back at how it all began … For a quarter of a century, our ‘Today’ home has been studio 1A!”
She followed up later, saying, “‘Today’ show’s past echoes it’s present.”
Guthrie and the network must not have thought that one all the way through.
As the montage began playing, the history of Studio 1A in the 1990s was brought up. That was a bold move, considering Lauer was a rising star for NBC at the time.
After the video played on the “Today” show, some people turned to Twitter to express their annoyance over Lauer not being included. These comments were met with vicious replies by some who were more annoyed that Lauer wasn’t in prison.
“I’m not wondering why Matt Lauer wasn’t in some montage. I’m wondering why he’s not in jail,” one person tweeted.
I’m not wondering why Matt Lauer wasn’t in some montage. I’m wondering why he’s not in jail.
— Michelle (@SoSofieFatale) June 20, 2019
“People are more angry that Matt Lauer was not in a Today Show tribute than they are about Matt Lauer sexually assaulting women. And you wonder why women are angry,” another commented.
People are more angry that Matt Lauer was not in a Today Show tribute than they are about Matt Lauer sexually assaulting women. And you wonder why women are angry.
— Megan (@MeganInNoDak) June 20, 2019
NBC can run, but they can’t hide from the dark stain on their history that Lauer left on their network.
Conservative Tribune, a section of The Western Journal, has reached out to NBC for comment but has not yet received a response. We will update this article if and when we do.
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