NBC has some serious explaining to do.
In her first TV interview since leaving NBC in 2015, journalist Ann Curry described the sexual misconduct allegations against former “Today” co-host Matt Lauer as widely known within the network, while also characterizing NBC as having a “climate of verbal harassment.”
Curry on Wednesday addressed accusations that Lauer harassed and assaulted multiple women–a controversy that led NBC to fire the news icon last November.
She told the hosts of “CBS This Morning” that she was “not surprised” by the allegations against Lauer.
When pressed to answer whether she knew of or had heard about her co-host’s alleged misconduct while at NBC, Curry responded, “I think it would be surprising if someone said they didn’t see that.”
She added, “I would be surprised if many women did not understand that there was a climate of verbal harassment that existed.”
Curry’s remarks seemingly challenge claims by NBC leadership, who have said they were unaware of Lauer’s’ alleged behavior.
After Lauer’s firing last year, NBC News chairman Andy Lack issued a memo that read:
“In the aftermath of Matt Lauer’s reprehensible conduct and his resulting dismissal, NBCU has – as you know – begun a review to determine why this was able to happen, why it wasn’t reported sooner, and what we can do to make employees feel more empowered to report unacceptable behavior.”
The network was criticized for launching an in-house investigation into the matter rather than doing an independent probe.
William Jacobson, founder of the website Legal Insurrection, told Fox News “It’s hard to see how an internal investigation that reports to senior executives would be viewed as complete and transparent when the conduct, or lack of conduct, of senior executives, such as Andrew Lack, necessarily should be an issue.”
On CBS, Curry also responded to rumors that Lauer orchestrated her resignation from “Today” by instigating bullying against her.
“You should ask someone else,” Curry told CBS’s Gayle King. “I’m not the one to ask about that, no, because I don’t know what was behind it. I know that it hurt like hell. It wasn’t a great moment.”
Last month, it was reported that NBC paid off a sexual harassment accuser who filed a complaint against MSNBC’s Chris Matthews.
In October, the network suspended “Morning Joe” regular Mark Halperin following multiple sexual harassment allegations.
How much more is NBC sweeping under the rug?
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
BPR INSIDER COMMENTS
Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!
