NBC says its internal investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against former host Matt Lauer shows that supervisors had not received any complaints about Lauer’s workplace behavior prior to November.
The report “found no evidence indicating that any NBC News or Today Show leadership, News HR or others in positions of authority in the News Division received any complaints about Lauer’s workplace behavior prior to November 27, 2017.”
NBC interviewed more than 65 former and current staffers during their investigation, zeroing in on the allegations from four women.
[Opinion: NBC’s internal report on Matt Lauer leaves unanswered questions]
“All four women who came forward confirmed that they did not tell their direct manager or anyone else in a position of authority about their sexual encounters with Lauer,” the report said.
The former “Today” host was fired on Nov. 29 for “inappropriate sexual behavior,” NBC said.
The report noted that Lauer apologized after his ouster for the “pain I caused.” He also “admitted to engaging in sexual activity with the complainant.”
It said “most” interviewees said they had “heard rumors” about Lauer’s “extramarital affairs.”
“Most witnesses interviewed stated that they had heard or read rumors about Lauer’s personal life, including tabloid stories about the troubled state of his marriage and the possibility of extramarital affairs, but those witnesses believed, with limited exceptions, that the rumored extramarital affairs were with women outside of the Company,” the document said.
