Guthrie Flips Off Lauer? 'Today' Host Erected Finger for Vacuum Joke
During a live broadcast of NBC's "Today" show, co-host Savanna Guthrie gave what appeared to be the middle finger to co-host Matt Lauer after he made a joke during a segment of the live television show.
During that portion of the show, Guthrie and Lauer were talking about vacuum cleaners and different models available on the market when Lauer reportedly said, "By the way this is the first time Savannah has ever used a vacuum."
That comment prompted Guthrie, who must have thought she was off camera, to put up one of her fingers in Lauer's direction. The co-host was wearing gloves so it is not clear what finger she was actually using, but in a message posted on Twitter, Guthrie maintains that it was her index finger and not the one used for insults.
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"Folks!! That was my INDEX finger! Photo evidence proving my innocence coming! #fingergate #TGIF," Guthrie wrote on Friday.
Lauer, the long-time "Today" show host, has had a rough couple of weeks as circumstances surrounding the relationship between him and former co-host Ann Curry came to light and showed the two had less than a friendly relationship.
Meanwhile, other recent reports have claimed that Lauer is himself considering switching networks and moving to ABC.
Those reports claim Lauer had been in talks with ABC and was trying to use the possibility of an outside network contract to improve his position at NBC, who is paying the host $25 million a year.
NBC's "Today" show has suffered in ratings over the past year. Following the departure of Ann Curry, the network lost half a million viewers and eventually dropped behind its longtime competitor "Good Morning America."
That development has left network executives scrambling to figure out how to stop the show's ratings drop with rumors swirling that this will be Lauer's last year.
