Matt Lauer Was In Denial of His Exit Until Lawyers Were Involved, Sources Claim
Former "Today" co-host Matt Lauer was in denial that he was getting kicked out of the network until lawyers became involved in the situation, sources claim.
NBC fired Lauer after receiving complaints of the co-host being sexually inappropriate in the workplace. However, sources told Page Six that Lauer denied his fate until lawyers were involved.
When Lauer was being investigated by Variety and other publications over allegations of sexual misconduct, bosses at the NBC network were reportedly already questioning him if he had something to confess.
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NBC President Noah Oppenheimer and Chairman Andy Lack are reported to have gone to Lauer several times and asked him if there was something they should be worried about. However, Lauer denied any wrongdoing.
"I am racking my brains, but I can't think of anything," Lauer allegedly responded, according to the source.
Later on, Lauer became the subject of gossip when speculations spread that he was cheating on his wife, Annette Roque. The rumors identified "Today" contributor Giada De Laurentiis as Lauer's secret affair; however, both parties denied that they had one.
It then came to a point when Lauer reportedly admitted to having three "consensual" affairs while working at "Today." Sources allege that Lauer had much more going on at the network.
His first accuser, a junior staff member, came forward with lawyers and human resources backing her up. By that time, Lauer had already prepared his legal team as well but it wasn't enough to save him from being kicked out of NBC.
Even today, Lauer reportedly still doesn't accept what happened between him and the network.
"He goes between sadness and acceptance of his fate, to disbelief how it all happened so quickly and how the situation was so out of his control," said the source.
However, Lauer is reportedly angry and feels like he took the fall for others who were involved. There are rumors that Lauer is writing a book to expose the others, but this is yet to be confirmed by him or his team.
