The world is imploding because exactly the wrong people run it & because we've just crossed the technological inflection point. (World stability is inversely proportional to exponentially increasing technological change.)
Political leaders and influencers are not a random sample of people. They are self-selected, corrupt or corruptible, power-hungry mediocrities with poor self-images. They are psychologically abnormal. Normal people don't lust for omnipotence.
In order to staff our world leadership with exceptional—& sane—people, we need a new system. Nominations, not self-selection. Please.
Speaking of which, why is the professional-pol sexual predator a protected class? Why is (s)he immune from removal? Watch for more congressional head fakes as phony investigations of non-existent ethics, feigned shame, fake epiphanies and non-apology apologies fill both houses on both sides of the aisle.
This grotesque story is ultimately about the abuse of power by a psychopathic oligarchy and the decline and fall of the Republic.
America hangs by one frayed thread—that we are all equal before the law. Who will save it?
17
After all the years of snickering about the problems and cover-up by the Catholic Church, now the Spotlight is on the media's sins ... from sexual abuse to the one no one wants to own up to: hypocrisy. First O'Reilly and Fox fell and there was joy among the masses. Then the dam broke and now there's shock and disbelief among the sanctimonious who cheered while O'Reilly and the bishops burned. Where was the Boston Globe while all this was going on.
3
The liberals are getting more than they bargained for. They tried to attack trump and roy moore with faultless accusations, and now they are eating their own. The sickness, hypocrisy, and two faced actions of those on the left, in the media, in hollyweird, and in politics is finally coming out. Part of draining the swamp.
11
I just completed a stay in England where bBC rules the nest.
BBC also has many famous journalists who pop up in many places where they are treated with royalty.
At the same time, tv in Britain still calls many of them news readers or presenters.
Perhaps, there will also be some of these twardy scandals - Brits appear to be a couple of years behind us.
But here in America, our journalists have become celebrities or treated or promoted as such by the establishment and their employers.
When that line is crossed, and fame becomes the raison d'etre for their tv programs - why it is just another Hollywood.
Everyone knew what that casting couch in a Hollywood directors office was for. It was cost of doing businesd or getting a cut of action.
So, when the fourth estate goes Hollywood - this is what happens.
In that regard, should NYT consider stopping its journalists from being a regular tv presenter. Mr. Sorkin comes to mind even though I am a big fan of him.
After all, the NYT does not allow its baseball writers to vote in HOF ballots which I admire.
So, there we go - in this now treacherous world of harrassment - every one is a suspect.
1
We have a sexual predator in the White House. We have a sexual predator on the Supreme Court. Last summer a woman made allegations against that Justice during his time on the Supreme Court. Once again they were largely ignored. That is what happens when the complaints of an earlier employee (Anita Hill) are disregarded. The Justice racks up additional victims. And we have many sexual predators on the Hill who make secret settlements with victims so that they also get to rack up additional victims. All of these sexual predators must be forced to resign. The public must demand it and the press must ferret out all the culprits. It is time. No special treatment. No excuses. Until these men in public office are held accountable, other sexual predators will continue to believe they have a pass as well. The cycle must end.
14
This purge of the male sexual predators is libel to snowball until there's only about 10 or 20 men still working in all the broadcast mediums...and they will be gay.
4
I don't know how these women were raised, but if any boss or co-worker called me into their office for sex I would simply kick them in the you-know-what and go to HR. And if I lose my job, so be it. Really. I'm 60 and have never been afraid or intimidated by any boss, male or female.
11
How charming our commenters ''Today'' are at times shocked and other times sorry about the preening Lauer. When it was the NY Times' political enemy Bill O'Reilly in the cross-hairs, the rush to the guillotine was free-flowing and hearty.
And I don't recall O'Reilly pinching any bums.
5
I hope that Matt Lauer's children and wife would rise from this suffering.
4
When you reach the age of 66, you think you have a pretty good handle on how things work in this world, but this story threw me for a loop. I am not familiar with Matt Lauer or his work and so I’m not surprised by this story in the current climate. He probably deserved what he got. Good riddance. But I’m confused. What sort of power could someone possess that would allow him to call a female colleague into his office, ask her to unbutton her blouse and have her comply, and then walk around the desk and pull her pants down without her raising a protest? Does this really happen in the workplace? If this happened as she said it did, she was too spineless to hold a position of responsibility at NBC. But I wonder if maybe she was very flattered by the advance of this TV star and thought it might lead somewhere. When he chose to ignore her after this, she felt jilted and used and when the sexual harassment floodgates opened up, she sought revenge. I have to say, the second scenario makes sense to me and the first does not.
9
That she unbuttoned her blouse is what is astounding to me.
8
I'm sure there are many, many more women coming forward. I will never watch these morning shows again. People on the set and in the organization new what was going on and remained complicit for years. Sickening. These men are beasts.
5
That "Even President Trump... weighed in..." is hardly surprising. What would have been surprising is if that loud, uncontrolled narcissist had been able to keep his hypocritical, tweeting mouth shut. The GOP Congress needs to demand accountability from the top.
8
"Accusations Multiply"
Your headline is technically correct of course. But a total of 2 additional accusations deserve that headline? Are we getting carried away with this headline, or does someone have a dislike of Lauer? It may turn out to be the case but we'll see what happens. The NYT's is too good of a newspaper to sensationalize.
3
Why are his accusers anonymous?
2
If "sorry"means "pathetic and disgusting and a criminal," then yeah, he's a sorry one.
2
Liberal progressive Democrats incessantly mocked Mike Pence as "puritanical" for saying he doesn't meet with a woman not his wife in a hotel room, in an office with a closed door, or alone at dinner...it appears now he was correct...
11
Over 50 liberal Hollywood and media types have been outed in the last six weeks as sexual predators of some kind. These are the same people who had the audacity to tell us how to think, how to feel, who to vote for. And as it turns out, they were everything they pretended to fight against. Excuse me, if in the future I ignore every word any liberal has to say to me. #liberalshavelostcredibility
3
A cult of personality arises when a regime uses mass media, propaganda, or other methods such as government-organized demonstrations to create an idealized, heroic, and at times worshipful image of a leader, often through unquestioning flattery and praise. A cult of personality is similar to divinization, except that it is established by mass media and propaganda.
All these people live and thrive on the lie that they are special, better, more this and more that and the masses eat it up. It is all you slack jawed donkeys that support this oily world, particularly women, admit it, you love it.
Umm, why did she unbutton her blouse? She was a married forty-something, not a naïve young thing. Sounds like consent to me.
9
I read this piece two times. My response: THIS is why Hillary lost.
Need I explain?
4
Now expand the story to other major industries headed by powerful men, and the Times won't have staff to cover any other news or space to print it.
Lol! Maybe all of these revelations and how they have been covered up until they could be covered up no longer, will finally wake more of the citizenry up to what complete fakes, hacks, liars and hypocrites just about every liberal in the world is. Never forget that creatures like lauer have been preying on women while they sat on air and condemned others, even when there was no proof! And the Fake News stations have enabled, supported and made them rich for being who they are and reporting their FAKE NEWS
2
Think back to not long ago, to Bill Clinton. Then, his advances and "escapades" were said to be his business and private, not for the public consumption. Wink, wink. I remember clearly on these pages when at the same time frame Francois Mitterand out of wedlock daughter was held up as an example of a public figure's "private" life not any of our business. Wink, wink. "Stand by your man" Hilary castigated the women BIll mauled. Where is the justice for those women? They were pubicly scorned by the NYT.
9
An interesting aspect of this entire conversation is the degree to which we minimize the difficulty of knowing what crossing the line means. Obviously, egregious abuse exists and needs to be called out and stopped. For example, most of us can agree that a man who shows his genitals to a stranger or colleague is crossing that line. But how many of us have met our partners or spouses in a romantic relationship which begun with pretty direct flirtation. And what did such flirtation entail? I believe that until we have a conversation as to what sexual "passes" are socially acceptable, we will continue to talk past one another in utter confusion.
4
I miss Tom Brokaw.
4
Disturbed by the amount of commenters defending Lauer and blaming the women for being too passive or riding the wave to complain at this date and not back then. Throughout my career, men have bullied and harassed me. The fear I had was real and paralyzing. At one job, I lost my position after I reported bullying. And the EEOC couldn’t help because it wasn’t categorized as sexual discrimination... at another job, a man who often made sexual and racist jokes, and one time bit my arm and squeezed my calf is still at the same job years later, because higher ups defend him and other coworkers look the other way because ‘boys will be boys...’ disgusting
8
Are all the (woefully wrong) people on here who are defending Matt Lauer and his right to “due process” aware that he gave a statement admitting to his conduct? He admitted it!!!!! Stop your witch hunt blather.
7
Hey NYTimes, Lauer did not "have intercourse" with the woman in his office, he raped her. Please don't use words to downplay the nature of the assault.
8
And yet after all of these newsworthy stories our POTUS still sits in office tweeting away while we are on the brink with North Korea.
3
Harassment? How about the trollish way Lauer talked over Hillary, then harangued her about emails, but rolled over like a puppy dealing with Trump at the presidential "forum" (https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/08/us/politics/matt-lauer-forum.html).
Good riddance to this empty suit.
12
Adult women have responsibility to say " no I won't take my blouse off and I will scream and defend myself to the point where you the sexual predator will be immediately exposed"
5
If the description here is the sum total of what happened, I don't see what's worthy of termination here.
If someone tells you to "unbutton your blouse/pants/etc" during a meeting, you choose not to comply. And/or you tell them you don't feel the same way about them. Or you say that you're offended. Or you say you're absolutely not interested in any physical relationship. Or you say, "Anyway, about that file..." Or whatever. But if you unbutton your blouse and then let them continue on, you're a partner in it. I don't at all understand how he knocked, she answered w/o complaint or protests (if that's the case), he entered, and now she's the victim.
I understand the disparity of power, subordinate to boss, but that doesn't mean that the subordinate is powerless. They are in a fearful position, yes. But they have a will. And they can choose their own dignity. If what's reported here is the whole story (and it may not be), it looks like a cheap shortcut.
4
To the people droning on about people at NBC "knowing" ...
How in denial are you people ?
The ENTIRE COUNTRY KNOWS about your President. What are you doing about it ????
9
I am so happy that this cocky jerk is gone. Matt was the consummate 1% media Liberal shill. His interview with Paula Dean was ruthless reducing her to tears and continuing to hammer her. So glad that he finally got what was coming to him.
3
Lauer needs to move to New Zealand where he has purchased land. He is a disgrace!!!
4
About time, NYT, that you are actively covering this topic. I will bet you knew about these activities going one for a LONG time and as part of the MSM, kept quiet. You are to blame as much as anybody for the long coverup! Shame on you.....
4
Let’s put it all on the table!!
What about the US women soldiers being sexually abused? What about our troops approving of the sodomy of young boys by Afghani officers? What about our general approval of our Muslim Allies ‘dogging’ and stoning of women?
C’mon if you are going to draw attention to sexual harassment, get out of show business and your fake news room and try to help people see the real world.
1
"The woman said Mr. Lauer asked her to unbutton her blouse, which she did. She said the anchor then stepped out from behind his desk, pulled down her pants, bent her over a chair and had intercourse with her."
Did the woman say "no" at any point in the encounter? The article does not quote her as saying no. Was she simply complicit & then regretted the event? Is that assault? I don't think so.
4
Here is a question for your Science Section, Does Power in crease your libido?
1
he didn't have intercourse with her, he raped her. call it what it is!
5
I just love the photo of accused abuser of women, Matt Laurer, with known abuser of women, Hillary Clinton. For years she aided and abetted serial sexual predator, Bill Clinton, by attacking his victims when they spoke up.
3
It is so sad that women who have been assaulted #1 can wait until the mood strikes them, 10-15 years later, to report the incident and #2 they point their finger at a man screaming his name to the public but get to keep their name private. I know women everywhere are now so mad at me they could spit but I think if it happened, own it and go public immediately! No job is worth your dignity!
3
As a gay male in the workplace I can assure you that had I ever engaged in even 1/10 of the type of behavior these guys got away with I would have been out the door faster than Bill O'Reilly can pull down his zipper. Straight males, who have enabled this type of behavior among themselves for eternity, would never tolerate being treated that way themselves. It's great to see this phase in the evolution of our society, long overdue.
12
I never liked him wondered why they kept him, turned off any program with him...remember Ann? Good riddance he was on about 20 yrs too long!
5
Lauer's salary, like O'Reilly's and others is appallingly obscene. This country would much rather see an architect or a writer or cancer researcher (or the countless "uneducated") suffer financially in unaffordable cities than create a country where wealth is distributed and our country is rich in services and infrastructure.
This twisted world is one where the powerful- the oligarchs- are fully corrupted and KNOW they can get away with anything.
Unfortunately among the famous this is as true of women, in my opinion, as men. There is too much wealth at the top. Of course, sexual harassment needs containment and I have no mercy on the folks that have been caught. But the entire system is rotten and right now there is a field day of toppling the powerful.
Another thing. We are all of us on the spectrum. Human beings are animals. Let us not forget that. The Puritan fantasy of this country is nonsensical. Just take a look at the profound hypocrisy of the evangelicals.
Follow the money.
5
NYT: Why did you pick as NYT picks so many comments questioning NBCs swift action here? Comments that called for more information before he was fired? Do you, NYT staff not think that NBC had enough information to make their own decision? Was Matt Lauer's position something that needed public approval and full disclosure to include public opinion because he was some special iconic figure? Isn't that special status what allowed him to get away with so much for far too long already? But also, do you not question why NBC did this so swiftly now? NOW, suddenly NBC needed to look like they were the 'take action' executives! Now that they knew information was going to come out they needed to be seen as proactive. Who at NBC knew all this time but did nothing and kept negotiating with him to pay him $25mil a year? Isn't that the real story here: Why did NBC act so swiftly to look proactive in an effort to cover up their years of looking the other way and doing nothing?
6
If Trump's sexual behavior doesn't bring him down, then I am afraid his power is so strong that nothing will. This is extremely frightening!!! NOW he is saying it wasn't him on the tape!??? Have his lawyers advised him to say this now considering what is happening everywhere? Or (this just occurred to me), do the people who could take him down, have skeletons in their closets , as well? And Trump has already threatened THEM with his power!!
3
What ever happened to just saying NO or GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF OF ME, or that classic SLAP IN THE FACE or I'M OUT OF HERE?
Could it be that some of the women coming forward with complaints 10 or 20 years later know they were complicit in the behavior, but maybe disappointed in the outcome?
Just asking.
4
And how many sexual assault complaints have been leveled at Donald Trump? I've lost count. But he's still in the White House. What's bad for predators like Lauer, must also be bad for Trump. No iffs, ands, or buts about it. The predator-in-chief needs to be shown the door.
6
"The woman said Mr. Lauer asked her to unbutton her blouse, which she did. She said the anchor then stepped out from behind his desk, pulled down her pants, bent her over a chair and had intercourse with her. At some point, she said, she passed out with her pants pulled halfway down. She woke up on the floor of his office, and Mr. Lauer had his assistant take her to a nurse." Why is the New York Times not calling this what it is ... rape.
This certainly sounds like NY State's definition of rape.
6
I just read one article in which the author says that “feeling uncomfortable and sexual assault are two diffwrnet things and some women have a low tolerence for ‘feeling uncomfortable’”. Havig been a pyschotherapist for 32 years specializing in child molestation, abuse and trauma, working both with children and adults, I can say that over and over those feelings of not being comfortable around someone with regard to sexuality is what happens before a behavior of sexual abuse becomes overt. In psychotherapy it is referred to as ‘grooming’. Children and adults can identify it. To differentiate this from overt sexual abuse is just another message that your feelings don't count. This further robs women and children of their power over their bodies, and causes them to doubt themselves and feel shameful. 3out 4 women have been molested. To say that we must ignore those who feel “uncomfortable” around a man is furthering the underground policy to ignore what has been happening to women all over the globe for centuries. No, women who feel uncomfortable need to be able to have enough confidence to say to that person how it ( whatever it is) make’s them feel! If adults, or men in power over women have the ability to ruin a career, and worse, then we can see how and why a women or child would keep quiet. This must stop, and perhaps now it will. Our president’s confession of molesting women and laughing about it is creating a huge backlash and movement long overdue. Thank god for that.
4
Honestly I'm a little tired of hearing about how discrimated against and harassed women are and how we are held down by the patriarchy and not taken seriously. How we are at the mercy of powerful men who view us as sex objects and incubators. It doesn't align at all with my experience and I think it's an attitude and message that is detrimental to women. I'm tired of being told we are all victims.
9
This isn’t the only failure of the network news system.
As a journalism graduate (BS ’70 Temple University, School of Communications and Theater), I am appalled by the lack of integrity and opinionated chatter of today’s news personalities. And I call them news personalities because they certainly do not exemplify the dedication to objectivity in reporting that I was taught by my professors. I am sure my highly regarded and now dearly departed masters in the art of news reporting and editing are turning over in their graves as the listen to the garbage that spews from the mouths of these journalism imposters.
Nor does the vast majority of them possess the academic credentials and experience necessary to educate and help shape today’s public opinion. Take some time to look up the credentials of the actors you see daily on these so-called news programs. Do you really believe an Associate of Arts degree in French is a valid credential to inform you and mold your opinion on the critical national and world issues we are facing today? A pretty face – male or female – is not a valid credential for the journalism profession but is a primary pre-requisite to be successful and make a buck in television.
As Marshall McLuhan commented on television back in 1967, “The Medium Is the Message”.
5
@Thomas of Exeter, who thinks women should go to HR or the police rather than to the media:
Many women complain to HR and NOTHING HAPPENS. These events are often not witnessed, there's often no physical evidence, and if it's confined to dismissive or intimidating or even threatening remarks without a physical component, it's hard to prove or even determine whether an actual crime has been committed--or just the usual sexist crap women are expected to put up with. Women need their jobs, their families depend on the money, and if they are fired for not cooperating or leave on principle but without a recommendation, their careers are toast. That's their Sophie's choice. Think how different your workday would be if people in your office made snide remarks about your bald spot, or your double chin, or your beer belly, or the apparent lack of anything substantial below the belt--or if you're constantly interrupted in business discussions, or you make a suggestion at meeting that is ignored until a colleague parrots what you said moments ago and now everybody thinks it's a swell idea. I agree that a media trial is a bad precedent, but if media exposure of the situation is what it takes for literally thousands of years of worldwide misogyny to be addressed, then so be it.
13
There is a lot of discussion about rushing to judgment on the one hand, and the unlikeliness that this was a single isolated incident on the other hand. I feel that what is happening is a long overdue reckoning. I am certain that Matt Lauer and the many other powerful, entitled and abusive men in America were known to their peers for who they were. In fact, the personal qualities that provoke these behaviors have undoubtedly contributed to their ascension to power and esteem in their respective male dominated workplaces. Their employers have known who they are all along.
Women have been complaining, and apparently many have been silenced with money, but that has not been effective to stop harassment that interrupts our careers. We constitute more than 50% of the purchasing public and we control more than 70% of consumer spending. We hold more than 60% of personal wealth in this country. We are educated and disciplined, and we operate differently. The threat of losing our business demands that corporate America use its institutional power to stop this. We will boycott, plain and simple.
You can't blame this on the media, it's not McCarthyism. It's capitalism, democracy and oh, yes, only fair.
7
I see women today equaling and frequently far outstripping men in many important areas of the U.S. economy such as education and nursing. I don’t see them encountering much discrimination these days gaining admission to law, medical schools or graduate schools or finding employment in journalism, television, the entertainment industry, law enforcement or the financial sector.
The present storm regarding sexual harassment and abuse in the workplace will pass in a few years and when it does women will be far better armed than ever before to protect themselves against this evil scourge. But when it does, men will still be men and women will still need to be their own primary defenders, taking all possible measures to protect themselves.
After which, just possibly, American society may begin thinking again about what it could do for the millions of men who have been unable to make the recent remarkable progress women have.
2
Thankfully I never had to deal with direct sexual misconduct to myself but in my first job was warned by an executive I would be fired if I told anyone at this large mid-western company about the affair that was going on between two employees at work, one of whom was a senior executive at that firm. I never mentioned this to anyone before this and I'm in my 80's now.
3
What's amazes me is how many people seem to be genuinely surprised to learn that popular entertainers are not the people they seem to be in front of an audience. Whether comedians like Bill Cosby or show hosts like Matt Lauer and Charlie Rose, these are trained actors. They know how to project a certain personality and demeanor in front of the camera, and even in front of other people. Their livelihood depends on it.
We have only to recall OJ Simpson, also an actor, and how nobody believed he could have committed those murders because audiences really thought they "know" him.
2
The elephant in the room that no one mentions is that as a result of these revelations men in power or authority may be less likely to hire or promote women to protect themselves against finding themselves in harassment or discrimination accusations or lawsuits. In addition, they may keep their distance and not form working friendships with women which can result in women not advancing in their careers. Women also need to learn tactics for fending off inappropriate behavior and avoiding potentially comprising situations without burning their bridges. As a male middle manager, I learned early on how to fend off abusive primarily male bosses while still advancing my career. it takes tact, tactics, and the willingness to turn the other cheek. Clearly it is more difficult with the likes of Weinstein but still manageable.
1
The current tsunami of revelations of sexual harassment and the consequent dismissals, affecting mostly white males is likely to have an unintended consequence. It will energize the Trump base of angry white men and women, who will dismiss these developments, ascribing them to the conspiracy of liberal elite in the media, designed to undermine Trump’s presidency and his agenda. They will come out in droves at the midterm elections next year, and vote for conservative Republican candidates. If any proof was needed, we clearly saw that in the presidential elections of 2016, all the sleazy tapes and allegations of some 12 women against candidate Trump did not have much impact on the results. They did not even influence women’s vote who supported Trump in large numbers.
1
I have a big, big problem with women, or anybody, who was sexually or physically assaulted by a boss or co-worker 40 years ago, or even yesterday, who is now coming forward with allegations and requests to remain unnamed. If they did it (and it's a big "if" because of their inaction) where were they when it happened and why are they hiding now? If you're assaulted you seek out authority and report it now, not years later. What's really intriguing here is not the allegations - that's been going on a long time - but the public's, specifically the media's, unverified acceptance of it.
4
Anyone who thinks that it is only men----rich, famous, middle-aged White guys, of course---who can be aggressors hasn't worked much in show business or, for that matter, attended an office Christmas party in ANY field of endeavor circa 1950's through '90's. Perhaps the reason why you don't (and won't) hear much about that is that men, the likely 'victims' in such scenarios, would never dream of characterizing those occasions as anything more than what they were: the sometimes thrilling, very oftentimes unfulfilling interplay between human beings in this messy business we call life.
1
I think a lot of men who never did the things we are reading about are quietly applauding the downfall of the overpaid, power-mad, mostly white and overwhelmingly male egotists whose vile behavior is emerging from the shadows. I was a mentor to and champion of women decades ago where I worked, and in a position of some power. I was mocked and distrusted by some of my male colleagues as a result, but also feared.
Not by all. My worst experience was an all-night mediation involving a secretary and someone more powerful than me at our company. What he had done was grotesque, ending up costing us a pretty penny, but fortunately also led to his ouster from our company. Since then, many women have risen to senior positions there on merit, not by yielding to inappropriate sexual overtures. A culture of mutual respect is a given, reinforced by annual day-long training sessions for all employees, top to bottom.
I don’t view what is happening as a witch hunt, but rather a much needed self-examination and course correction of our culture in the era of the Grabber-in-Chief. It may be one of the few benefits, and certainly an unintended consequence on his part, of his election. And as a faithful husband and father of four daughters, I say double down and right on!
9
The NYT should do an article about how much money Lauer and others fired "for cause" are walking away with. In many corporations, it would negate major payoffs, but I'll bet these guys have ironclad contracts that reward them obscenely, regardless of the reason for dismissal.
6
I am tired of this above the fold coverage while our democracy is disintegrating and a tax plan is afoot which will bludgeon the sick, poor, elderly, college students and the middle class.
9
A reader, Mike Livingston, comments here that he admits that he "doesn't know what happened." And the impression that the headline gives is that this decision was, as he comments, "based on a snap, 24-hour review"--and if you are going from there, it would indeed be a "discouraging precedent." What company would so carelessly fire someone on these flimsy terms, and thus become vulnerable to litigation? None. There is much, much more to the ostensibly single complaint than revealed in the Times' misleading headline. Read the investigative report in Variety, also dated Nov 29, "Matt Lauer Accused of Sexual Harassment by Multiple Women" (http://variety.com/2017/biz/news/matt-lauer-accused-sexual-harassment-mu.... This report was the result of a 2-month investigation. His abuse was long-term, wide-reaching, outrageous, and affected many women, and he was paid over $25 million a year to engage in this kind of activity with impunity. We women have had enough, and it is time for these preening peacocks to go and to be replaced with clever women, women who are better and more qualified to to report the news fairly and intelligently. After all, Lauer and his bros controlled the narrative on Hillary, and they are complicit along with Russia, Fox, and the like, in delivering Trump to the White House.
6
Wait!! Am I the "only" one who remembers that when Lauer came on deck at "Today", out of nowhere, he was sold as an aw shucks, "heart-throb?" With the "sleeping-in-his-car" backstory?
And we ate it up?
2
There are gaps in this story. Without more information this is not rape or sexual assault...
Sexual harassment argument could be made and of course undeniably poor professional behavior that he should have been fired for. But not criminal. We don't know if he even had meaningful power over her career prospects.
"He had more professional power than me so I was raped despite seemingly accepting his sexual advances." No mention of threats, physical or otherwise. No mention of saying no or physically signaling no before or during the encounter. Locking the door doesn't rise to the bar and is not evidence that it wasn't consensual.
This gets to the gray area of what is consent what is not consent. If you are too young, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, asleep, or otherwise physically restrained then the answer is obvious. If serious threats are made then yes you were coerced.
This woman sounds like a troubled individual who was not capable of managing her own life during that time. Unfortunate and sad yes. But she was not raped and saying she was confuses the issue and hurts women who were actually assaulted.
2
Isn't it interesting that corporations, greatly interested in good public image, and, of course, our money, fire people for improper conduct upon public disclosure while governments local to fed are largely indifferent to such behavior though they dole out taxpayer funds to victims?
Women and their champions must get their backs up and fight the troglodytes in government, make them quiver for their future as a product boycott can force businesses to fire sexual transgressors.
1
Why is it that these beautifully worded apologies only occur AFTER the perpetrator has been caught/exposed? For someone "blessed" by his loved ones whom he "cherishes" - he was very happy to keep abusing (and yes, this behavior is as much an abuse on the "loved ones" as it is the workplace victims) them until someone finally had enough.
I keep thinking of that great line from Gone With the Wind "If you had it all to do over again, you'd do no different. You are like the thief who's not at all sorry he stole, but is very, very sorry he is going to jail."
2
Let's keep things in perspective. What O"Reilly and Harvey W and Roger Ailes and the White House guy and perhaps Lauer and Rose did was the equivalent of felony reckless driving. What Garrison Kiellor did was apparently (we don't have all the facts) the equivalent of double parking. Unless we make distinctions, we will indeed fall into a McCarthyite cauldron of accusation.
1
Look at all the comments here attempting to defend Lauer as a victim of the woman who came forward to detail his sexual advances. Yet these same people also condemn Trump and O'Reilly for their unproven actions against women. The hypocrisy of Democrats, liberals and progressives is amazing, but not unexpected. They learned to deny, deny, deny when it comes to the guilt of their media and political icons from the original denier, Bill Clinton.
5
The common thread with almost all of these abuse cases is the HR departments (a point made several times before in NYT Comments). They get the reports and bury them, to protect the enterprise. They have no interest in protecting the employee. So NBC is claiming never to have received reports over 20+ years?? I really doubt it.
2
I am not surprised by Lauer or Charlie Rose.
1
These men are reaping the fruits of their bad behavior. Why is Trump not been held accountable when so many others have been sacked? Why doesn’t the NYT do a piece on the dozen or so Trump accusers and make him at least uncomfortable if he isn’t going to be held accountable?
No real shock here. I have to ask why is that this went on for 20+ years at NBC. I'm not a fan of the GOP but I have to say looking back on how Lauer castigated Mr. Trump as the candidate is shockingly hypocritical. As a supporter of the feminist movement I'd say there's some real soul searching that has to go on given that women took so long to speak out, (serious praise should be heaped on those that did and were not listened to), and that so many women knew that these dirtbags existed. How many women were abused because no one came forward. It's time for that silence to stop!
1
Where can a $20 million dollar a year television anchor find a jury of his peers?
Sexual assault is a serious crime and vastly under reported precisely because "he said/she said" is nearly impossible to prove, allow me to suggest, because a pervert with lots of money can hire attorneys and other professionals to prove his innocence. Harvey, no?
Now that Matt Lauer has apologized, can we dispense with the "witch hunt" whining and excuses?
First off NBC did not report it the same CBS and ABC don't report anything worthwhile is they stop being news organization a long time ago, there nothing more then profit centers for their parent corporation who have not interest in losing any ad dollars.
Fox is not a new station but a propaganda channel for the republican party the way RT is the mouth piece of of the Russian govt
What did NBC executives and staff know?
When did the NBC executives and staff know it?
This is the real story. Just like the Penn State - Jerry Sandusky serial pedophile case. The real story was about the Penn State administration, not Sandusky. It is alleged by many that Later had a long history of inappropriate behavior, yet he was only fired on Tuesday.
What is going on at NBC? And, when are we going to see the heads roll at NBC? Advertisers should be weighing in right now on this.
1
I find it amusing that the people who castigated Bill Clinton re. the Lewinsky sex scandal )"it was consensual, but he was in a position to unfairly use his power") are the first ones to say that all these women had to do was say (firmly...sorry for the pun), "No!" You can't have it both ways.
Fascinating how these bullies and rapists who had no problem assaulting women and then intimidating them into silence adopt such flowery, feminine, soft language once called out on their behavior.
[[“There are no words to express my sorrow and regret for the pain I have caused others by words and actions. To the people I have hurt, I am truly sorry. As I am writing this I realize the depth of the damage and disappointment I have left behind at home and at NBC.”]]
[[The last two days have forced me to take a very hard look at my own troubling flaws. It’s been humbling. I am blessed to be surrounded by the people I love. I thank them for their patience and grace.”]]
My, I, I, I, I, I, I, me, my, I, I, I...
Narcisist.
How about you fess up to how many women you've assaulted over the years and instead of telling us how "blessed" you are you give an accounting of how many women's lives and careers you've ruined.
Also, get an STD test and tell the results to the women you've forced yourself on.
5
When will the media start to refer to people who rape a co-worker as a rapist and not simply someone who had "inappropriate sexual behavior with a subordinate?"
2
I was more likely to believe accusers before Leeann Tweeden lied about her breasts being grabbed.
Not only did the EVIDENCE prove she lied, she also conveniently decided not to shoe the evidence of her own inappropriate sexual behavior, including assault.
And since the Times, CNN, Fox, NBC, and others all fell for her ruse, I'm less likely to believe their reporting on this deadly serious matter.
The only person I've actually heard ADMIT to having forced himself on women, and to having a compulsive desire to touch women without even asking, like a magnet, is your President.
How is it that the liars are all getting free passes, and the ones caught admitting to their deviant behavior get rewarded ?
2
As a gay man I don't have a dog in this hunt but it looks like the Teenage Anti-Sex League has completely taken over.
1
Nobody gets fired for a single incident. Clearly NBC knew of others. Ann Curry's complaint about a "boys club" several years ago did not come out of thin air.
3
As long as people are in need of job & means of survival, Organizations like NBC will not change .Faces will change.This game will continue as usual.However these workplace behaviors will have a long negative effect in American society both for aggressors & victims. Aggressor will enjoy and victim , their family & hidden victims will continue to suffer and suffocate ,making American society dull & criminal slowly slowly slowly
1
As these allegations and investigations continue to increase, it strikes me that soon, there will be few in Congress, Senate, the media, or Hollywood that will escape scrutiny. That the pervasive culture of harassment in male dominated industries (read: most industries) is coming to light now, speaks well to important focus on supporting women and enforcing intolerance of any form of harassment or assault. But it also makes plain that the entire culture of permissiveness and privilege and dominance was created by patriarchy and THAT has to change. Today I'm much more interested in seeing how the thousands of women who have been subjugated and shamed by this culture can reclaim some measure of what was lost - the promotions, the raises, the credit, the dignity, the CEO post, the money they swallowed or sacrificed because the culture deemed them dispensable.
10
I wonder if rich, powerful men feel impervious and willing to risk their careers, reputation and family for a few minutes of pleasure,
Or is there some percentage of all men guilty of such behavior, but we only hear about the famous ones?
5
'... for a few minutes of pleasure'
Apparently you have never heard of the feminist dogma that rape is about power, not "pleasure".
"Rape is a particularly difficult crime because it's about both power and violence."
Rape is about power, not sex
by Jill Filipovic
The Guardian
29 August 2013
www dot theguardian dot com/commentisfree/2013/aug/29/rape-about-power-not-sex
1
I am sure Matt Lauer is guilty of many of the things he is being accused of but I wonder if the additional folks coming forward are really doing it more for money than real justice now that the purse has been opened.
1
I wonder how many responses like this are from men who have never been sexually harassed; if you have been sexually harassed or worse, male or female, you wouldn't wonder if those coming forward are after money. They are after justice and have a right to voice what happened to them.
10
I was never a fan of Lauer, because I always believed that he was selectively asking confrontational questions based upon some unknown agenda.
I really suspected him when he confronted Corey Feldman and treated him like a liar. I had previously written his behavior off as trying to show journalistic objectivity and a willingness to ask hard questions, but it never felt right.
Now we know what was going on. I would suspect a lot of his behavior as an interviewer was kind of subconscious, blending the above motivation with a underlying fear of his own potential accusers.
I'm glad he was fired. Nobody hire him in media again -- he doesn't need the money and we don't need his dysfunctional journalistic mind.
11
Is it just me or is some of the reporting here unclear? In the encounter in the office, was the woman drugged? Why did she pass out? The implication seems to be that she was drugged but there's no accusation of it. Also, did the woman in the office not want Lauer to have sex with her - and if so, why would she unbutton her blouse for him and where is the reporting of her telling him to stop? The confusion in this article is problematic because it makes it sound as if his advances were at first rejected, then accepted, they had consensual sex, then she passed out ... it doesn't seem to add up.
Anyone?
17
Mark, the first step is understanding the inequality in the relationship. Matt Lauer has ALL the power, the power to derail this woman's career and consequently her life. She may have unbuttoned her blouse and engaged in sex, but at the time she would have felt she had no choice. It's hard for some men to wrap their heads around this, but until women have true equality at work and in the home, this behavior by powerful men will continue. It's called patriarchy. And btw, she no doubt passed out from the shock and violation of the experience.
3
100% agree. Need more information to say that this was rape.
Comparing McCarthyism to credible charges of sexual harassment is a false equivalency. In today's usage, McCarthyism refers "defamation of character or reputation by means of widely publicized indiscriminate allegations, especially on the basis of unsubstantiated charges." (https://www.britannica.com/topic/McCarthyism) Charges of sexual harassment against high-profile men are credible and substantiated. For decades, those who suffered sexual harassment were afraid to make their allegations public and who can blame them? They were the ones put on trial, maligned, marginalized and interrogated as if they were the perpetrators. Historically, women were considered property and treated as such. Perhaps many men fear retribution for their behavior and the loss of privilege to treat women as lesser beings.
8
Seems like a pattern of abuse, not a rush to judgment, and a culture failure that enabled it.
11
Oh guys. If you were an attractive woman, you would know this isn't coming out of nowhere. You would have been grabbed, cornered, pawed and ogled so many times over the years that you would simply shake your head in recognition at the stories. You definitely wouldn't call it a witch hunt and fear for the future of all powerful men. You'd know that there are good men with morals out there to take the place of these undeserving guys who have gotten their way for so, so long.
28
I guess 2017 is not going to be seen as the Year of Men. Unless we're talking about their decline and fall. Well, as far as I'm concerned, it's long overdue. Men have been the bullies of the world throughout history. Back in "the good old days" it was "might over right", and who had that might? The big strong man, epitomized by the consummate bully, Trump has been kicking sand in the faces of physically weaken men and dictating to women how things are going to be. They replaced theirs clubs with other instruments of duress, the ones who worked outside the house for a salary, the ones who made their wives change their names, a symbolism of subservience to them. The Man was the King of the Castle literally. He was the sole owner because it was he who was given a credit line not his wife. She had no financial say in running the household unless the benevolence of her husband graciously allowed it. If there were domestic disputes, the husband was given a broad swath to beat his wife within a inch of her life for refusing to do her "wifely duties". This is not some ancient time we are talking about. This old coot saw this occur in my lifetime. Women only received the Franchise a century ago. That is how backward this country is. And now with Trump the US seems as though it is yearning for a return to those godforsaken days. The US is a reflection of its leaders. We the people should be hanging our heads in shame.
DD
Manhattan
12
it is amazing how many of the 'folks' believe the public persona is the same as the person's personal life.
13
The only thing these men regret and feel truly sorry for is that they got caught. The rest are empty words.
21
Warning: Conspiracy theory ahead! Or common sense.
I'd like to see documentation not only of the allegations, but also how they come to light. Government agencies have a wealthy of information about all of us. They are adept at social engineering. It's fair to say (I'm certain, in other words) they influence the content we see on the Internet, which varies by individual. When any of us click on CNN, for example, we see different stories than other people, based on our profile. It's easy for a hacker to finesse.
I've long worried that the Patriot Act and NSA spying would lead to interference in politics. Did you have an affair while your wife was in the hospital? The NSA knows about it. They have the emails. Now imagine you are running for Sheriff in Texas. Somebody with connections, maybe a senator, supports your opponent. Phone calls are made, and the affair comes out. Maybe it's leaked. Maybe the other party to the affair is engineered on the Internet to come forth on their own.
You see where I'm going with this. Right now we have an administration which speaks against the media with all the tact of a Latin American strongman with a list of TV stations in his hand he plans to shut down by the end of the month. And suddenly, all this.
Disclaimer: Yes, I'm a white male dinosaur. No, I don't think Matt Lauer should get a pass! Are you kidding? Good riddance. If these accusations are true, good riddance! This is not gray area stuff. Best.
2
A line is crossed when a man commits sexual assault (forcible rape) vs. sexual harassment (lewd and crude comments, inappropriate touching). How can men like Matt Lauer NOT be prosecuted for rape? He locked a woman in a room, raping her until she passed out. How is criminal charges and jail time NOT in the picture?
It takes a lot for me to become physically ill from reading something, but this account from one of his victims truly made me vomit. He has some gall to “expressed sorrow and regret for the pain [he has] caused”. . . “Repairing the damage will take a lot of time and soul-searching and I’m committed to beginning that effort. It is now my full-time job.”
Such hollow words being stated AFTER the fact and act. Where was the sorrow, the regret, the shame, the sense of decency prior to hurting these women? What goes through a man’s head in that he does not think it is wrong to rape a woman? I find Lauer’s “confession” and “apology” as vile and insulting as his behavior. I think his only regret is being found out and losing his job.
13
NBC should have stuck with a version of the original Today format, someone like Dave Garroway and J. Fred Muggs, the chimpanzee. The show has not been worth a hill of beans since they left.
1
When reading in the beginning of the article how the incident was described, that he "sexually assaulted" the woman and that she passed out during the act it sounded like a felony sexual assault.
However as the incident is described later on in the article, explaining exactly what happened the term assault is certainly not the proper description of what had taken place.
The woman worked with him since the late '90's and they had worked closely together, traveling and sharing dinner together. They had been working with each other for a few years in which sounds like a daily basis, and so they were well acquainted with each other, and it would be fair to say that they were certainly comfortable in each others company.
So on that day she was sitting with him in his office and he asked her to unbutton her blouse and which she readily did, they were quite comfortable interacting with each other. He then stepped out from behind his desk, pulled down her pants, bent her over a chair and had intercourse her.
Now had she immediately gone from his office to the police station and reported what had just happened it is very likely that the first question the police would have asked her was how was he to have any clue that he was acting against her will. The next question would have been what she thinks a reasonable man would have thought.
The police would have concluded that what had taken place was a misunderstanding for which she alone was to blame.
2
This all began as an attack by the Radical Liberal Media on Bill O'Reilly after the Democrats lost the election. There were front page headlines, outrage and indignation over the allegations made about Bill O'Reilly. Liberals were celebrating that they had destroyed fox news.
We now find out that the accusers are far worse and had many more skeletons to hide.
4
Don, this is not Liberal vs Republican. This is an historical moment for women to finally speak out. #MeToo
4
Another victory for the Trump presidency. We, as a country, are finally bringing to light the sexual harassment and assaults against women that have taken place behind closed doors in the workplace for decades, and neither Clinton, Bush or Obama were able to begin curing this disease until Trump came along.
1
Why is it that these regretful men are always “embarrassed and ashamed” when they are found out and not before or during their attacks on women? Removing these perpetrators from power (which is the basis for their harassing behavior) is the best remedy.
8
Bottom line is that women too must have jobs in order to eat and put a roof over their heads, also very often to support their dependent children.
Why should women have to put up with harassment and sexual abuse in their workplaces in order to do so? This must change. It is called survival.
9
What if Mueller is found to have sexually harassed someone? What a gift women would hand to Trump. How ironic!
CNN’s Stelter is suggesting that Lauer has been so popular that a number of both men and women badly craved to sleep with him ! This definitely throws new light on the NBC anchor .
If the woman was so unhappy with Mr Lauer’s sexual advances, why did she not physically reject him? This was consensual sex.
5
Time Magazine Person of the Year - Ronan Farrow.
11
Re-watching his excoriating interview with O'Reilly really puts the leftists hypocrisy on stark display.
1
Why doesn't the Times address sexual harassment as the net result of the way men AND women raise their children, for instance, instead of being sensational? That's the core of the problem. NOT Matt Lauer, a typically vacuous icon of American culture who doesn't really matter in the scheme of things anyway. The net is, why must the Times relentlessly position an article about Matt Lauer front and center when our lives will be WAY more affected by what happens with North Korea?
3
Peter, because this is a really important and life-changing issue for 50% of the population.
3
haha this is all so funny.
i guess this is the fall of men in power?
In no way shape for form am I accusing the married victim, but:
"The woman said Mr. Lauer asked her to unbutton her blouse, which she did."
Why?
3
Wait, he asked for his assistant's help to take care of a woman on the floor with her pants down? And the assistant didn't report? Where's this assistant now?
4
Just curious...the woman in Lauer's office, why, again, did she unbutton her blouse? Simply because he told her to? Where was the point where she physically could not say no?
5
Quid pro quo. Do this or your fired. Even when it is not said, it is implicit.
1
Perhaps my view on this is tone-deaf - I'm a college educated straight male who works in a business function for one of the most desirable tech companies in the United States. A simple question: what percentage of relationships across the U.S. were initiated in a work environment? Though I have no statistic to reference, most readers here would probably agree that they know of at least a few couples that first met through work, or through a professional encounter. This is by no means an excuse for inappropriate behavior or making unwanted advances. But can't we all admit: sometimes there's chemistry and sparks fly between two people in a professional setting. A casual fling can turn into a serious, long-term relationship or even marriage and a family.
I find it disheartening that the current media firestorm suggests that ALL men who pursue relationships with female colleagues are predators. If such a relationship is consensual, and neither party uses it as leverage to advance their professional ambitions, then where is the problem?
-M
4
No one is saying that is a problem. You just have to ask verbally (not physically) and take no if that is the answer. Plus you can't ask out someone who directly reports to you.
NOT COMPLICATED
3
We not only need to prosecute offenders, we need to teach women how to deal with these situations as they arise. Teach them in school, health classes, if we still have them. Teach the boys too, while we're at it.
I have brushed off may advances over the years, at the NYT as well. But they stopped and I moved on.
6
I’m thinking that health classes long went the way of the dodo bird due to funding cuts.
1
I am beginning to doubt that all of these women wanted to get and or keep their positions so badly that all them were basically enslaved and got not money or privilege from their subjection to abuse.
Did none of them receive money or promotions as result of this sexual slavery or is the press only showing the sympathetic view?
It is interesting to read Megyn Kelly's book which related how she handled "situations". However she is not the average female in the business, among many talented women, in that she is a lawyer who knew what actions were available to stop unwanted advances and certainly the abusers knew it.
6
I couldn't agree with you more. When Savannah spoke of how heartbroken she was for her good buddy, Matt Lauer I almost there up. Such a stupid and insensitive comment. Not sure if she was complicit in anyway and his disgraceful behavior but you can bet she was aware of what was going on before word came out.
There is also an important lesson for women here: No woman ever has to "unbutton her blouse" just because a powerful man like Matt Lauer asks her to do so. In this instance, had the woman refused and had Lauer tried to force her to do so, she had the power to have him taken out of his NBC office in handcuffs -- even back in the dark old days of 2001.
9
Don't be ridiculous. He wouldn't have physically forced her. He would have had her fired for some trumped up, imaginary or exaggerated reason and/or he could have had her blackballed in the industry. Imagine thinking that everything you've worked for comes down to that moment. So maybe you're the one who needs to learn an important lesson about how abuse of power works when the abuser is a man seeking sexual favors.
2
I would not unbutton MY blouse for JESUS And he would not have asked me to.
1
Right, because somebody, somewhere would have believed her over him.
Your comment makes it sound as though you wouldn't be that somebody.
1
As I read through some of the comments here, it seems that the "me too" moment is passing and has made no difference at all. Many, many comments ask questions like, "why did she wait 20 years?" or "didn't she say no?" or my favorite, "she let a guy do that and now she... guns down a guy's career." These and other comments about "witch hunts" and "McCarthyism" have been turning up more and more as sympathy slips away from women and back to their "victims," the men. This is how it's always been, and how it probably will be again. In spite of recent allegations and admissions, society continues to see women as the controllers of men's behavior. Women are at fault if a man goes too far. It's disheartening to know that some people still believe "me too" is just a way "to gun down a guy's career." I'm afraid "me too" will pass away and nothing will have changed. We haven't come very far, really, have we?
14
In 1970, a group of us women in the very southern town of Decatur, Georgia, reported a man whom we had witnessed doing really awful things. We went to court and testified, he was sent to prison and the inmates killed him. Speak up, YOU ALL.
1
I'm not calling this a witch hunt, more like a double standard. If women don't want their appearance mentioned at work, don't discuss it with your colleagues, or expect that just those you've looking to impress comment. Second, unless and until Trump and Moore get removed, there is no justice for any if the women who were truly harassed and assaulted.
3
I am all good with the reckoning (minus the inherent risks of a "knee-jerk" reaction) - and agree with others that NBC would not have made this move without credible evidence. The part I don't understand is why she complied with his request to unbutton her blouse. Intimidation, fear (of losing job, reputation, etc). I get that. Still, she could have said NO THANKS.
6
Let's condemn men who harass women, but let's also start condemning women who use their sexuality to get ahead. I seen both, and they are not mutually exclusive. My former supervisor who was a vp of a large nonprofit was a pig, a pervert. Everyone knew, most laughed about it. There were also women who worked for this man who took advantage of his weakness, and were more than willing participants. If we are going to have a real conversation, gray areas need to be discussed. All the men are not guilty, and all women are not innocent. Hollywood for years has been objectifying women on TV and movies, and at the same time preaching to middle America about equal rights. Why are all the news women on TV good looking? A coincidence, I think not. As Jerry said o. Seinfeld, the percentage of people good looking at best is 10%, but in the newsroom at fox, CNN, NBC, ABC, and CBS, that percentage for women is 99%.
9
To those who express concerns via statements like "let's just ban testosterone": the kinds of behaviors being described range from sociopathic to deranged. These are not the "normal office affair" that ends in love and marriage. Also, the leverage of power an abuse of organizational hierarchy, informal connections/advantages and the like often seem to border on illegality.
And thus we witness a giant toilet flush...
3
The only person you know, is YOU.
More and more it appears many American's think anyone who appears on TV has instant creditability; an healthy dose of scepticism is always prudent.
2
It's about time NBC dumped Lauer. He's about as much a journalist as Al Roker is a meteorologist (he's not).
4
It is a shame it took this long for the story to come out.
4
Perhaps the states should pass laws making it illegal for a man to touch or look at a woman without a legal agreement. Maybe the Muslims have it right and the country should simply require burkas. I of course exaggerate but it is beginning to look like we are entering another era of Puritanism without the religious component.
7
The men can wear them, then.
1
While this is dominating the airwaves, the print media, the internet, and everything else, the CFPB has been neutered, a tax bill that isn't a tax bill anymore but a war on the poor, a health care repeal, and a polluter's paradise is rapidly moving through Congress, and our foreign relations are now falling apart with our friends, not just our enemies.
But sex sells, right?
6
...and the anonymous woman "... told The Times that she passed out and had to be taken to a nurse."
...
THERE IT IS...she was taken to the nurse. Then she reports the rape, swabs are taken and the police called and later that day or next Matt Lauer is arrested, charged, tried and sentenced to 10-years! NO...NOT AT ALL ..DIDN'T HAPPEN
...
Now years later she makes a "credible claim" and Matt Lauer is immediately fired.....THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED.
2
No, Edward. That is not what happened according to the article. The initial claim that led to his firing was from the woman in Sochi in 2014 - NOT the woman who reports being taken to the nurse. Read the article before you start making declarative statements like THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED.
2
No question he is ... but can somebody explain to me why an adult woman opens her blouse when her boss tells her to? When I was young and beautiful and a single mom depending very much on her job I would have never opened my blouse even if the CEO had asked me to do so, unless I found him exciting and wanted to have an affair with him.
11
Bring back Kartie Couric and Tamryn Hall!
1
It's fascinating to me to see so many people who think firing Matt Laurer was some sort of "knee jerk" reaction or witch hunt. How foolish are people to believe corporations would flippantly break multi-million dollar contracts or fire someone on "unsubstantiated" evidence or because of accusations from anonymous accusers? Ridiculous! Look how far out of the way these readers are going to justify their irrelevant "fandom" and disgusting defense of serial harassers and abusers? No wonder this problem went on and on for decades without being rectified. There are still so many people -- both men and women -- in denial. Trust me people: if someone is let go from their multi-million dollar contract, it's not sudden and the accusations are not unfounded.
12
Music to my ears...
2
It's the Dance of Life. Men will be Men, Women will be Women! For Men it means " Chercher la Femme ", more or less indiscriminately; for Women, it means " Chercher mon Chou/Honk ", depending on what benefits me!? In the later sits the confusion! In this Dance, there are no winners or losers, or for that matter Saints - all are victims of their natural drives/instincts. Note: both sides are governed by Universal Natural Laws (mutable and immutable), such as mentalism, relativity, polarity, and duality. The dancer's imagination leads both sides to be wrong. This is not to excuse personal transgressions and abuse. It is simply stating a fact of life. For the Media, the Show must go on, after all, it's good Business! It seems that there are plenty of 'me-too'out there, to fuel the lure of fame. Laws aside, the logical way to bring the dance to a screeching halt, is to Neuter both Genders!!! Wow. radical! Welcome, to the evolving World of Homo Deus, where all our imperfections are eradicated!
Noticed that Mr. lack claims that this is the first COMPLAINT about Mr. Lauer's Behavior. He did not say it was the first REPORT of his behavior. These big lefty corporations have been allowing this kind of behavior by their powerful employees for decades. These men are adults for goodness sake. Where is the concern for these women. It's corrupt, it's despicable and it's about time it ended. Even worse is the secret slush fund of the people's money Congress uses to buy-off offended and injured women. That is a crisis.
2
It blows me away that Savannah Guthrie would say she is "heartbroken for Matt Lauer" as she announced yesterday on the Today Show about his firing. She should be more disgusted than anything. Who cares if he was a good friend to her, as she said. It is outrageous what he did. I said it the other day when I commented on the Charlie Rose firing and I will say it again: Keep coming forward, ladies. You are giving relief to those of us who were so terribly abused in newsrooms in decades past, when women were completely powerless and managment did little or nothing to stop the unbridled abuse. Let your voices be heard!!!
7
'It blows me away that Savannah Guthrie would say she is "heartbroken for Matt Lauer" as she announced yesterday on the Today Show about his firing.'
Guthrie didn't say what you have in quotes. According to the article:
'[Guthrie said she] was “heartbroken for the brave colleague who came forward to tell her story.”'
1
Glad he's gone. I have never been able to watch the program because I have always found him smug and overbearing...schmarmy. Also since I have friends that work there I have heard the twitterings about him. A little sunlight is good.
8
"The woman said Mr. Lauer asked her to unbutton her blouse, which she did. She said the anchor then stepped out from behind his desk, pulled down her pants, bent her over a chair and had intercourse with her."
Come on now. What is NOT consensual about this? Was she drugged? Apparently not, although she needed to see a nurse? This is a totally weird story.
7
Regarding the "rush to judgement" comments, these actors have contracts which protect them but which allow for termination with cause.
We can be certain the NBC legal beagles felt they were on solid ground cutting him loose; in fact, the assault allegations are more proof of that.
Is it the beginnings of a witch hunt or a recalibration?
I guess we will wait and see as the pendulum swings but let's be clear that the vast majority of women well know the difference between a compliment and an invitation for unwanted erotic behavior in the workplace.
Maybe it's time for men to learn that lesson too.
10
It's possible we men have outlived our usefulness. If we're lucky, we'll be kept around to open jars.
4
I am a woman and I have worked with men (and women) from all walks in many countries. I have advanced education from top notch schools in Europe and USA and I work in a man's world - cut throat investment management. Never have I been treated in a patronizing manner by any man but rather always with respect. I am always in control of my affairs and I am highly skilled in what I do. As a man or woman if you want respect, you better know what you are doing and come across professionally. You can never be wishy washy in any situation.
I have seen many a women, who bring their womanly baloney in the work place and then curry favors from men for advancement by using manipulation, sultry, seductive, coquette sounding voice, being demure, etc. It is, usually, always the woman who controls an encounter and if you do not want any advance men understand that instantaneously. You, the woman, meet and talk professionally, do not give a man unnecessary smile and you will NEVER see an advance from a man. A man will not dare touch your behind if you haven't given him some inkling that his action will have no repercussion. As a woman, you set the boundary.
All these claims I am reading from the many women are, in my opinion, attention seeking, money making attempts and no self respecting woman should bring accusations years after something might have happened. They should have dealt with it when it happened. Not years later.
15
Lucky you.
16
I could make a similar statement but it would be wrong not to point out that my good fortune is a result of privilege - my family, my education, my genetics, my environment. Few women are as lucky as I am, and I *very* aware of that. I would not expect them to have the same experience in life that I have had.
8
It sounds like you are a powerful strong individual who is well educated and have been able to establish yourself as an equal in what you describe as a ‘mans world’ - I commend you for that. However, should we then expect those who do not have power in the workplace to be subjected to men inappropriately whipping out their bodily parts whenever they feel like it? Sexual assault is an abuse of power and takes advantage of those who don’t have it. Why should the blame be on the victim who is often young and powerless and not on the entitled, power protected male who knows better but has felt until now that they could get away with it?
5
Lauer was on television just now apologizing about his behavior and the hurt he has caused so many people yet there are so many posts that are not ready to accept his criminal behavior. My goodness, the lock door is something right out of a horror movie.
9
If the allegations are true - Lauer is lucky he lives in New York, where the statute of limitations for rape is five years. Otherwise he'd be looking at jail time.
3
Equally disturbing to me is Savannah Guthrie's response to these serious allegations against Lauer. I found it shockingly inappropriate. The last thing a sexually harassed woman wants to hear is that their female coworkers love the perpetrator who harassed them, and it makes it easy to see how Lauer's behavior continued unchecked for so long. Perhaps the women in power, i.e. Guthrie, as well as Rose's producer, are complicit, afraid of losing their own positions, and allow the behavior to continue by looking the other way.
13
She knew what he was doing.
2
She should have taken a cue from Nora O'Donnell who reacted much differently when the news of Charlie Rose came out.
Agreed. Too, Kathie Lee Gifford (looking stricken, with tissue in hand) said she'd called or texted ML that morning (even before any of the salacious details had been reported) to tell him she "adores him", then gushed and sermonized for what seemed like 10 minutes about how ML deserves God's mercy. Precious little, if anything, was said about the victims and what they deserved. I think she's got Frank Gifford PTSD.
2
The occurrence you describe is a sexual assault. But in the teaser text you say he “had sex” with her. Why is it so hard for the media to say “sexual assault?” This is part of the problem people! Using softened language around abhorrent human behavior.
9
If this allegation is true, bottom line, MATT LAUER RAPED AN EMPLOYEE. Say it like it is. Stop peddling around the truth of the allegation. Headline should read: MATT LAUER ACCUSED OF RAPING AN EMPLOYEE IN A LOCKED OFFICE.
9
I never understood why anyone wanted to watch him. He was always annoying and arrogant the few times I did watch and usually quickly changed the channel.
4
Disgusting, prurient, horrifying -- it is past time for these kinds of behavior to stop. I'm assuming when she was given the command to unbutton her blouse - and did so obediently, according to the story -- she felt she had no choice. The lock from the desk was an ominous signal. One wonders what the person who took this woman to the nurse saw. Why was it hushed up? What kind of world are we really living in?
17
Who was that nurse?
1
Perhaps there will come a time when not just the powerful men in powerful job roles will be ousted and called out for their inappropriate behaviour.
The point is that this type of behaviour is taking place in many of our workplaces by disrespectable folks.
8
He made a statement of apology and concluded: “Repairing the damage will take a lot of time and soul searching and I’m committed to beginning that effort. It is now my full time job."
Every single famous predator says this!
Will they do any such thing?
Nope. Never.
22
Precious close to the hard right-wing notion that people are born criminals and therefore prison shouldn't be about rehabilitation but punishment, and mandatory sentences should be long and permanently remove rights. Joe Arpaio much?
2
Don't you think that it's interesting that the careers of celebrity personalities are ruined by sexual harassment allegations, while there has not been repercussions for politicians with similar, if not worse, allegations?
I also think the comments about McCarthyism are too severe.
Are we seeing a surge of women coming forward about men's actions? Yes. This is due to a phenomenon in psychology that explains why people are more likely to share unpopular or "not socially correct" information or behaviors after they've seen another person do it before them. Women are feeling more free to share their stories of humiliation, because they have seen previous women able to successfully share their stories.
We also like to compare our current social issues to those of the past, yet we forget to remember how bad they really were. During the peak of McCarthyism, there were innocent people being charged with TREASON with little to no evidence. These men have allegations supported with evidence, and are facing the repercussions of their actions.
10
After watching the clip of Lauer's 2 female co-anchors this morning, one, similarly to the co-hosts of the CBS morning show, spoke about how conflicted she felt. (This is paraphrased): "How do you respond when someone you love dearly seems to have done something bad, yet I applaud the courage of the women who came forward."
I'm sorry, but you can't have it both ways. Rose and Lauer have behaved hideously for decades and seemed to feel so smug about their powerful positions as well as rock-sure of their inherent rights to harass and abuse, that they didn't worry much that everyone knew. Shame on these 'clueless' co-anchors as well. These shows have large audiences, but intimate and gossipy work environments. If they truly had no idea, they should be fired for being so unable to observe and draw conclusions based on what they heard.
22
Workplace harassment does not have to follow the criminal standard of “innocent until proven guilty” this is a job, not a prison sentence. Companies have the right to handle employees how they see fit, if unfair, the employee can seek recourse legally through a wrongful termination suit, or allegation through HR.
But Lauer just apologized, I’m seeing in a ticker flash, so he admits guilt in his situation.
I feel extremely sad for the women involved with Lauer at NBC. It sounds as though that would be a horrifically stressful situation inside the package of a pinnacle dream company/career.
I hope their continued to be a reckoning for men who abuse their power to stop women from thriving in their careers.
10
People here questioning if this is turning into a witch hunt: remember, sexual harrassment, abuse and assault are all about power and control. Women in our society have been systemically oppressed and denied power comparable to men for centuries. In recent times women have been making progress in that regard but are still nowhere near the level of men. In most work environments women still earn less than male counterparts, even with promotions. Entertainment industry settings such as the Today show require women to wear 4 inch stilettos to work, and they are routinely required to get botox facelifts and other procedures to look a certain way. This is common knowledge. And don't get me started on weight and what is deemed acceptable. And this is the type of culture we live in. This is how women are objectified, routinely. So when you put that together with women's lack of equality in terms of pay and powerful positions, it should be easier to understand why and how the sexual harrassment, abuse and assault happens. Women do not have the power men have. There are many men who abuse their power. I have not spoken to one woman who is surprised by what's being revealed now,..women i know, including me, are amazed the allegations are being.taken seriously! But not at all surprised at the content of the allegations.
14
I'm more shocked that the Today Show is considered part of the NBC news division.
25
What has not been addresses is how this "system" was very beneficial for some women, both on and off the air, whose affairs or ability to turn a blind eye led to prestigious, long-term, lucrative careers. To question the integrity of these special relationships was to be dismissed as simple envy or caddy, or labeled a troublemaker and shown the door. Quite a few great and competent women reporters were sidelined after some executive or other determined they had "poor aesthetics" a term heard at both NBC and CBS News, relegating their coverage to radio or diminishing air time to justify contract termination. ABC News is hardly immune to this and its only a matter of time before those tales come to light. These places, which lay such claim to integrity, have been atmospheres of rampant sexism, sycophancy and male-dominated cronyism for decades. And its really tough to believe the Savannah Guthries of this world are clueless. At some point, it could seem the only honorable thing to do, even if at great cost to all hopes for a decent, well-earned career, is quit. Which many have done. In disgust.
3
I started off reading the NYT recommended comments and it is quite obvious whomever is choosing the comments is deeply threatened by the idea of a man being held accountable. Andy Lack's statement was terrible communication. It made it sound like it was the first incident when it is NOT. There are SO many others even though they might not have gone through official channels. Wake up, America.
17
I was told someplace a long time ago, “Don’t get your honey where you get your money.” That said I’m concerned about the unintended negative consequences of what will happen to women over the long run in the workplace. That’s not right either but I sense a backlash with all these allegations however true. In other words the wrongheaded position could develop that women are dangerous in the workplace. Don’t hire, don’t promote, don’t associate with them.
8
That's the right wing's implicit threat to women: speak up and you'll be banned from the workplace like you were in the good ole days. Instead, let's have more women-run enterprises where skeezy men are not hired, promoted, or associated with. Time to turn the tables with the idea that sometime in the future, parity will be achieved.
2
If you don't drink and drive, then you have zero risk of being arrested for DWI. Same goes for harassment. If someone can't function with a female co-worker then maybe they are the ones that should stay home. I've always had female co-workers, bosses and subordinates, and somehow managed not to touch or say anything untoward to any of them. go figure.
3
Note that NBC denies that “current management” denies knowledge of Lauer’s activities. Also note report that Lauer had a switch at his desk that when activated, locked the door. In a large headquarters building, particularly a leased property, one doesn’t simply call an electrician to come ever and install a switch, it has to be approved by someone, and a licensed electrician has to pull cable through ceiling and walls to install the thing. Then there are the corporate safety weenies who must make sure it doesn’t compromise the safety and evacuation plan. There is the potential for complicity or dereliction at several levels at NBC.
10
Gestures. and remarks which might harass a woman depend on which man is making them? Its he attractive or not her type ? Is she in the mood or not? Your career and reputation ruined by accusers whose identities are concealed? In my office elevators have become self segregated, the men keep to themselves..
2
That is the safe play and sad for women and men who don’t engage in this behavior. I’ll bet that nobody discusses this either. It’s automatic now.
1
Good. If they and/or you don't know the difference between harassment and flirting, then don't talk to women at all. It will make the world a better place for everyone else.
4
He sexually assaulted a woman, Tom. He raped her. He humiliated and intimidated a woman who wouldn't perform oral sex on him.
1
People are saying that they were not surprised at Matt Lauer's behavior. I was surprised. Maybe because someone I know said he was her neighbor and was very nice. I only watched snipers of the Today Show so did not see a lot of him on the air. He always seemed pleasant and engaging and respectful to his guests. I guess you never know what goes on behind the scenes. We certainly do now.
Many people are commenting about the way he treated Hillary Clinton versus Donald Trump. I cannot comment because I did not see this on television. They are saying he treated him more fairly than her. Hillary Clinton is no shy retiring violet and I am sure she can hold on her own between any interviewer. She has done this before.
Mr. Lauer's crude and lewd behavior was inexcusable and should not be dismissed as normal or acceptable. It should not have been tolerated. I do not believe all news correspondents behave this way even those in high positions. Not all men in whatever field behave this way either. Many are very respectful of women and would never dream of violating a woman. We must not assume all men do these despicable things just because we have seen a few behave badly. We want to call out the ones who are evil and praise those who are decent. We must not lump all men together. This is unfair to those men who behave themselves in the company of women.
What ever happened to "innocent until proven guilty?" Sometimes, women make stuff up! Why, to see themselves on TV!
Remember the La Cross team in Durham, NC? There are multiple examples, such as the bride who disappeared in Fl.
How do careers end, Politicians embarrassed, and in AL, the threat of a US Senate usurping the will of the people by removing Moore from the Senate should he win the election?
Is the US, now openly, not even putting up the facade of being a Democratic Government?
1
The women involved in the Lauer firing have not made themselves available to the public and not for anything but he already admitted to it.
3
He admitted it and has apologized. It can't get more real than that.
5
"Innocent until proven guilty" is the standard for criminal trials, not television or elections.
If you want to claim we aren't a "Democratic Government [sic]" then you need to read the Constitution.
Is it true they fired him, but paid him in full according to his contract?
1
The former law student in me just wonders why no charges have been filed, no court order subpoenas, search warrants, or complaints filed not with HR, but with the police. We have colorful stories and breathtaking allegations to get us all aghast about this behavior, while unquestioning a draconian GOP tax bill, a President with financial ties to Russia and a good possibility that DT will fire off a nuclear war with NK because their leader called him a bad name. It seems odd that all this discussion over the sex lives of media stars happens when the GOP tax bill is being rammed through. My guess is once it's passed and DT gleefully signs the bill, these allegations will disappear. Someone said Fox News had 16 stories on their website about Lauer, and one on the tax debate. Think people.
5
Will I automatically get fired if a colleague makes an accusation against me?
Does it require evidence or any form of legal process or is an accusation sufficient?
If so, this makes us all very vulnerable.
3
Check the policy manual for your workplace.
4
Now you know how a college student feels under Title IX.
1
Other news reports are now saying this was coming for two months.
1
Is there any doubt that if Dirty Donald Trump was not president and the Democratic president had been accused as Trump has been now, he would be saying this is all masterminded by the administration to try and dilute and deflect all the similar charges against him (or her?)
1
I can't help but feel that the readers, mostly male, who are warning against "witch hunts" are being disingenuous. I have witnessed sexual harassment in various work situations all my life, and heard certain men talking about women in the most disrespectful terms. We all should know this goes on, and we should all agree that it must stop. I've also had women friends who described being crudely harassed, and the fear they felt.
This pretense of doubting the women who speak out reminds me of those white people who doubted the sincerity of Black Lives Matter activists. You would have to live in a cave all your life not to know what's going on. The fact is, we all know, but some of us, for whatever reason, are seriously in denial.
Maybe there is a risk that excesses will happen as society tries to come to terms with this, but we absolutely must fight against this, in the interests of all humanity. We evolved from apes - time to evolve a bit more, IMHO.
13
We will segregate ourselves from women. It’s the safe play in many situations. It’s not right or courageous but it’s safe when our role is to provide. Being wrongly accused Incurs far more risk to our families and livelihood. The 2nd and 3rd order effects will largely be negative. Sad.
1
Most women will find being segregated from men at the workplace a relief. Y'all think every woman is just waiting for any men to show interest. It will come as an amazing revelation that women go to their jobs to...work. They go to the grocery store to buy food. They aren't just waiting for a man's, much less your, attention.
3
Your "role is to provide?" Do segregate yourself, preferably in the 1800's.
Take away those automatic door locks from these wonder boys, like Lauer - a lot goes on behind closed doors - just ask Charlie Rich!
4
Haven't watched the Today show since they fired Ann Curry. It was the network's behavior toward a hard working female journalist and the elevation of clearly female demeaning Lauer that told me something was amiss. The Clinton interview confirmed my assessment of Lauer if nothing else did.
14
It's incomprehensible that Lauer wasn't fired a year ago for his slanting the Presidential debate.
7
Is it legal for the President of the United States to advocate the firing of employees of private corporations? And I too deplore the rush to judgment in the firing of personnel until proven guilty in case of any crimes including sexual ones.
2
What about the 'powerful men' in the Congress and Oval Office?
Why are they held to a do not touch standard?
4
Just read Matt Lauer's apology. Matt Later thinks he's guilty, so is he part of the witch hunt too? Not at all; he's . . . guilty!
10
Can we not put a sell by date on someone’s pain? I don’t care if the incident happened a hundred years ago. Imagine if it were you, dealing with it daily, affecting your entire being. All the while the perp is on your television rising up the chain of command. Let all this truth and his truth come to the light. It is beyond time. I am angry the system of complaints is not what it should be. A huge behemoth like NBC has abominable Human Resources? Shame. Consider all women and men who aren’t in this employees position. We have a long way to go.
4
So tired of hearing its McCarthyism, or witch hunt, or dubious accusations by 'unknown sources'. Why don't some of you that think these are all unsubstantiated accusations,
talk to the women around you and ask them, 'what have you experienced?'.
9
for women who face workplace sexual harassment, or assault, the place to report the incidents is the company's HR department, or the police. not Vanity Fair, The Hollywood Reporter or CNN. being tried in the media is creating a very dangerous precedent and an abomination of due process.
3
Such childlike ideas!
HR is the to protect the company first, not the worker. Complaints to HR usually end in no change or later retaliation.
But you can still believe in Santa Clause.
5
Having known people who have been harassed, you do not complain to any authorities until you're ready to quit your job, and possibly leave your career path as well.
Many victims are not in a financial position to do that.
Others don't want to subject themselves to further harassment from the friends, associates, and enablers of the perpetrators.
If the employee believes the HR department wants to protect the perpetrator, she or he will not complain to HR.
If they go to the police, the police will want some kind of evidence. Proving non-consent is extremely difficult.
Talk to some people who have been harassed and you'll quickly understand why people don't report abuse immediately, if ever, especially if the perpetrator holds any kind of power.
1
Lots of hypocrisy from the self righteous. If this exposure of some powerful men, who took advantage of their position is weaponized as a war on men, I guarantee it will backfire. There will be a Duke lacrosse moment, and this serious issue will be discarded.
1
I am eagerly waiting for the other shoe to drop on the presidential foot.
6
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
--Proverbs 16:18 KJV
3
"One complaint came from a former employee who said Mr. Lauer had summoned her to his office in 2001, locked the door and sexually assaulted her." Other reports say he had unconsented sex with her.
Sexual assault? Try RAPE. Unconsented sex with penetration is RAPE.
That woman should have asked for a rape kit, and gone to the police. Lauer would possibly be serving a jail term right now. (Yeah, I know all the arguments about "he said, she said" and "who would believe a lowly [fill in job description] over a famous tv personality." But not making an issue simply lets the perverts continue doing what they want to do.)
I hope that women in the future just make a stink about such treatment. The way you deal with a bully, and that is what these sexual predators are, is by making life unpleasant as possible for them. They need to know that there is a significant chance that society is NOT going to give them a pass.
Then, and only then, is this sexual predation going to stop. Yeah, there are some honorable and principled guys who would never consciously behave in that manner.
Rules are put in place to control the BAD actors, not the people who would behave properly in the absence of rules. It is time to make it clear that the rules are going to be enforced.
7
Can someone explain this paragraph to me ?
What woman are they talking about, when did the harassment happened?
"In an editorial meeting on Wednesday, Mr. Lack said that Mr. Lauer’s involvement with the woman who made the complaint began while they were in Sochi, Russia, to cover the Winter Olympics in 2014, and that their involvement continued after they returned to New York, according to two people briefed on the meeting."
1
They updated the story and it's confusing. From the article about his apology "Lauer was fired after a female colleague complained to NBC officials on Monday evening about a pattern of inappropriate sexual behavior that began while they were on assignment at the 2014 Sochi winter Olympics in Russia, according to NBC statements."
1
Can someone explain why all of these men "at the top of their game" are being fired so quickly, yet the one who holds the highest office in the land is still employed? Wake me when this happens because until it does all of this feminist cheering is going nowhere.
3
Posts, eg; "...unknown sources based on a snap, 24-hour review.." "due process"...- well, there was nothing "unknown" about the source in this instance! A "single allegation" but the NBC email and now NYT and other reporting indicate multiple well founded allegations.
We've seen this with Fox and Bill O'Reilly - it seems just one allegation (Megyn Kelly) but $14 million and $32 million payouts by O'Reilly. How did this immense scale indicative of culpability escape notice?
If we are to depend on internal reports to HR as some posters postulate as the gold standards, then sexual predation in the workplace has a truly brilliant future.
5
Why why aren’t our President and Judge Moore being held to the same standard. Is it perhaps because each man is a vehicle to a greater cause? A cause and world view that elevates the Man and keeps the Woman in her subordinate place?
I can’t wrap my head around the notion that there are women out there who support these creeps.
4
Because they don't work for corporations that have their profit margins negatively impacted immediately. If we want our politicians to be held to the same standards, WE have to make it happen.
2
So the summary appears to state he is alleged to have raped a women in his office. Where is the NYPD investigation? This is no longer a workplace issue. If the allegation is supported by evidence then he should be charged.
4
This was 2001. Statute of limitations has run.
1
Matt Lauer's silence is all I need to know! He is as guilty as they come! End of story! Don't hand me this one accusation by unknown sources stuff!
If he isn't guilty? Then why wasn't he front and center at a press conference when this happened!
Single allegation using unknown source whatever!
2
Kennedy, Clinton and now Trump seem to all have gotten a pass for sexual misconduct. It's time that the Elites in Congress and the Executive Branch are held up to the same standards as the rest of the nation. Of course Congress would then be reduced to a couple of former priests, women and a few Gay men.
3
Some people are calling Lauer a journalist. He never was a journalist. He was a TV personality.
8
WHAT ABOUT TRUMP? It really begs a comparison, no?
6
All of you folks talking about "witch hunts" apparently don't trust women. You're saying a woman doesn't know the difference between a friendly conversation, flirting, and sexual harassment. I've worked very closely with thousands of men over my career, and was sexually harassed by ONE. Believe me, the difference was clear. Stop disrespecting the accusers (and the MANY men who are not harassers) by pretending you or they don't know the difference.
10
no sympathy for any gazillionaire, he won't go hungry like so may others
5
The only true justice that can be done is not firing Lauer. He's a multimillionaire who can disappear from the spotlight. No, the only true justice is trial and conviction for sexual assault. Matt Lauer and every other sexual predator should be behind bars and that includes our predatory president. That is the only just punishment and deterrent to felonies such as this.
1
We also need to expose the major corporations who FOR YEARS have been concealing their Employment Racial Discrimination and Retaliation against Blacks by way of job intimidation, non-disclosure agreement (NDA) payoffs and their leverage in the Court system.
3
Concerning all the comments about these accusations being "McCarthism" or a "witch hunt", unfortunately I have been inappropriate with attractive women a few times. But I always knew it.
6
I'm surely not the only person thinking that we may have found the reason NBC passed on Ronan Farrow's story.
11
And of course, we now have the obligatory act of contrition, where he now fully realizes the hurt and harm that he caused, and vows to do better.
I read this story last night, read the Variety piece, and watched the news shows. What troubles me most is the staffer’s depiction of the nonconsensual sex in Lauer’s office where she says she was left unconscious and had to be assisted by a nurse. To me, that sounds like straight-up rape, and how an incident like that did not at least bother the nurse, or go unnoticed by anyone else, is astounding and unbelievable. (Maybe they did notice, but they chose to stay quiet out of embarrassment, fear, or self-preservation.)
Calling such behavior “harrassment” is disingenuous and appalling, and underscores the entrenchment of power and the abuse of that power as the main causes of this rancid subculture. Apparently, these men think that a day-old apology will be enough to compensate for the years of untold hurt they have caused to their subordinates. They just need to shut up and let the process — criminal, civil, or otherwise — sort out culpability. There is really nothing they can say to excuse their behavior.
Sorry, but I have ZERO sympathy for Lauer, Wenstein, et. al., and their issues.
24
"...bent her over a chair..." Didn't she say no? Did she want to participate? I dunno. This morning I'm feeling defensive about the whole abuse thing going on. How'd the woman allow a man to remove her clothes, have his way with her? How far does passivity go? Now years later in the 'spirit' of the times she's come forward. Because Lauer was her superior, it is abuse whether consensual or not. Isn't that it? She let a guy do that and now she comes forward, again in the spirit of the times and guns down a guy's career. I'm sorry, politically correct or not, she didn't say she said 'no'.
I don't get it. She was raped? she didn't fight---totally passive? and now in this climate she has the 'bravery' to come forward? I know: because she is physically weaker, inferior in on-job status, and a woman in a feminist culture, she doesn't have to prove anything.
Didn't the department of Education just overturn a requirement that accusers in sexual abuse cases were adjudicated to be telling the truth? I don't doubt for a minute that aggressive, abusive men are out there. I just think we are in a bit of a hysterical climate where people can come forward and allege anything, claim the right to passive victim-hood, and are acclaimed for their courage for participating in a national media campaign.
13
She was left unconscious by Lauer. Sex by a boss is not consensual with a drunk in an office. Sorry. He is a predator.
1
I worked in a TV network in NYC and I can say that an anchor's sway is huge. When they pass down the lobby to the elevator it's as if Jesus Christ passes -- all this because of the huge (and frankly underserved_ difference in salaries. So when someone like this makes a pass the pressure to go with it is huge because the person can break or block your career forever if you don't. What is worse, the female staff of older senior producers defends these jerks and hate to create scandal because they want to keep their jobs and everything else running clockwork (Plus, I think they are jealous of the younger and prettier female from the staff). I left the network after my career had been blocked by the head of the division - who had told me that his wife neglected him and played a diabolical role of waiting to make me do the first step if I wanted to be promoted from perlamance to staff at a more than a miserarable salary.
75
Matt Lauer has apologized.
So all those who are concerned about lack of due process and firing over nothing, you can rest easy.
26
The locking door setup sounds like unlawful imprisonment. Shouldn’t we be expecting DA Vance to enter this case? Or have Lauer’s lawyers made the required donations?
16
To those who "feel" that this particular case is evidence of a growing witch hunt -- your feelings have no relation to this case whatsoever. You do not know what happened, what the evidence was, whether Lauer admitted to it, what the terms of his separation were. The public knows next to nothing about what transpired in the short period that the allegation was reviewed. NBC could have done the right thing, more than the right thing. If you are having a strong reaction to this and other recent news on harassment -- and many of us are -- it's important to ask what our reactions are based on. We need to talk about those reactions and the real issues that are driving them -- and not about whether NBC was right or wrong in this case. We know nothing about this case.
21
Reading the comments, this doesn't sound like sexual harassment to many of us. Allegedly, he came on to a married woman in his office. She consented simply b/c he asked, not even saying - Mr. Lauer, I'm married. She says she did not do enough to "stop" him - but it sounds like she fully participated before fainting, which clearly neither anticipated. No threat or intimidation is described. He is fired years later without a (real?) chance to defend himself. Maybe there is more to it - maybe he was totally wrong - but what is reported doesn't sound like it. To be fair to her, the media is often wrong.
Sexual comments/games go on, probably more so in large offices, often participated in by women. Most are harmless and yes, fun. Some women I've worked with are more sexual and/or crude in offices than men. Many relationships start in offices too (mine 27 years ago). It is all subject to human uncertainty and inconsistency. But, there are some gray and red lines most people adhere to or at least try to.
Most people are glad women are speaking out about harassment. But, we do not want a bonfire of the vanities either, where people are afraid to joke and no relationships exist. It will always be a hard to draw lines because people are complicated and make mistakes. Many people are reviewing their lives, wondering if they would now be criticized or fired for what we are sure was innocent or consensual at the time. Overkill harms the claims of the actually abused and harassed.
13
The fainting woman was not the complainant that got Lauer fired.
Moreover, Lauer has already apologized.
But dont worry. High profile companies take sexual harassment seriously, or, at least, say they do. But many small and medium size companies don’t.
Don’t you go to the office to work?
12
So well stated! You are absolutely on target.
My fellow college newspaper editors and I used to play the "Who would you marry..." game sometimes and we certainly meant no harm to anyone. We are females and those were private conversations and not said in front of men. We had a wonderful culture among our staff. We were a group of smart students who loved being journalists. We are also human adults, and therefore sexual beings, and last time I checked this is the United States and we are not under religious law that prohibits speaking about sex.
This growing "outing" of sexual advances from decades ago absolutely is feeling like a witch hunt. Having sex with your boss (or as it was written, being bent over a chair and allowing him to have intercourse with you) and hating it/regretting it later does not make it rape. There are actual people who are raped, violently. I am much more concerned about that than about forcing adults in the workplace to behave piously at all times.
Oh and the "milk" comment also was in an episode of "The Office". Offensive, yes. Worthy of being reported on? Come on.
2
You think something like this was consensual? You say, most people are “glad” women are speaking out, but we don’t want a bonfire of the vanities? Whether people like you are “glad” or not, thankfully for women, times seem to be changing, and the kind of behavior described will no longer be tolerated.
3
In a case like this the accused must be given a chance to present his side of the story, or to defend himself. That is, follow the due process. The action against Matt and Charlie were unacceptably precipitous and ruthless. They should see if they have any legal recourse.
4
This isn't a lawsuit. NBC wouldn't have fired him if there weren't evidence.
8
They don’t. Because they did it.
2
I can't imagine that Mr. Lauer would not have had a termination for cause statement in his contract. Cause is typically define as misconduct, felony, etc. In many cases cause is also defined as a violation of the companies ethics statement. The accusations are clearly a violation of sexual harassment policies and ethics statements all major corporations have.
As other posters have said, this is not a lawsuit where innocent until proven guilty is a requirement (at least in the US). An internal investigation was completed and Mr. Lauer's conduct was found in violation of company rules and was let go in accordance with what his contract most assuredly would have stated.
He then apologized - meaning he took full responsibility for his actions. Why are you so quick to assume that the accusations were false? Were you present and a full participant in the internal investigation?
1
Lauer was one of Hillary's catalog of reason she lost the election. Yet, if you watch the interview they did before the election, he played the interview totally straight and was very respectful. She could not have asked for a more understanding interviewer from her political side of the media.
1
It was his moderation of the debate that was problematic. Not his interview.
7
Can you please stop blaming others for her loss? She lost her election not the pundits, not the Russians. She lost it because she lost touch with half of America even with 3 million votes from California, enough already.
5
Liberals couldn't believe it when someone asked Hillary the questions she should've been asked long before then. She certainly thought she was going to get the usual softballs she always got from sympathetic reporters. Now Lauer is reason 841 why she lost the election.
1
Years ago, Nader championed installing whistle blower hot lines where employees could bring inappropriate or illegal actions by their fellow workers to the attention of management (in my opinion, the Board). The fact that so few companies have installed such effective controls, again, the Board needs to know, indicates senior management would rather react than be forced to be proactive. I suspect there are so many cases of sexual impropriety in the work place that management at the highest levels would recoil at the amount of time it would consume if such a control were in place. So how serious are we?
8
It's not only just "pervasive", it's a global EPIDEMIC.
9
What happens if we ban al men from all current companies to protect women?
Then all men would have to go out and start new businesses where they could act as they wanted.
How soon will it be before women start clamoring to join the all-male companies? Never, right, because women alone with all current companies will make an utter success of them. Right?
3
Simpler idea.
Why don't you men just stop with the unwanted advances and such upon women? I know it's a tough concept for you to grasp but try it.
2
"Matt Lauer, Charlie Rose and Bill O’Reilly were all encouraged to be larger-than-life characters before their sudden loss of stature."
All I need to know about the low intelligence of the Middle Class here.
8
NBC did not rush to judgement. A company that large with that many lawyers does not risk a “wrongful termination” of their biggest cash cow host, who could easily afford to countersue (Mr.Lauer reportedly had a $20 million dollar contract) without knowing the evidence against Mr Lauer was powerful and most probably very certain. Companies just don’t make these types of decisions so quckly without clearcut proof.
31
One has to ask what took them so long? If the empty suits knew about his lecherous behavior during the Sochi Olympics and are only firing him now they are complicit in the whole matter.
1
I stopped watching Today after the disgraceful interview Matt Lauer did with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign. I’m not at all surprised that he has been revealed as a cruel and deeply flawed individual. The big surprise is why didn’t his partners on the show know about his behavior?
17
Because how dare someone ask Hillary the tough questions she should've been asked already, right?
Very sad about Lauer because it's clear by now that women, and the public, can no longer trust any man. That is not a good place for society to be because a functioning democracy depends on some level of trust between the public, the media, and our political leaders and right now there isn't much trust. At the same time we can't forget any of this or it will happen again. Maybe all businesses need to install lots of cameras, or give people body cams. If I were a man I think I would willingly wear a body cam to avoid any suspicion of misconduct.
5
Organizations should recall interim steps of progressive discipline, not just dramatic and destructive moves of termination. Then they should be held to account when they fail to apply policies consistently. Sounds like Lauer's behavior was inappropriate (however mild) but tolerated for the protection of profit over people.
Let's also remember that it may have been the supreme fantasy of legions of female staffers to have sex with Matt... A bit of a mitigating circumstance that may have been a tad confusing for him despite the obvious lack of scruples and discretion and abuse of power that can create a wholly different phenomenon.
From the comments it sounds like there is a camp of women who have been made to stomach indignities over the years without fair recourse and are now happy to see revenge exacted upon any man in power. It doesn't matter whether that's fair.
Meanwhile this is a media-driven conversation that in its shock-driven battle for eyeballs is pitting American men and women against each other, when we need to be finding real solutions.
Why is there such tension in the air? Inequality is penning us all in, closer and closer, amid greater and greater scarcity of wellbeing and time. We're really fighting for scraps, despite great wealth in inadequate terms of GDP
2
"inequality is penning us all in" - what does that even mean?
3
It means "This person is afraid someone's going to remember when he touched her inappropriately and he's frightened."
1
I had to read several comments before reaching the inevitable querulous laments about Mr Trump remaining president, allegations of his having harassed, abused, or assaulted women notwithstanding.
Not to belabor the obvious, but Mr Trump will not resign because he's been condemned in the court of public opinion. Especially when that opinion is held by many whom those who did not vote for Mrs Clinton do not respect, if not despise.
Death or impeachment are the only possibilities I see for Mr Trump's relinquishing his office before his term expires.
For some of you that's an almost impossible pill to swallow. Some of us have resigned ourselves to what appears inevitable and instead of carping about the president we've moved on to doing something positive for our less fortunate fellow citizens, for the country.
If dwelling on Mr Trump's failings makes you happy, have at it.
1
I’ve worked in the news business for 17 years and while I’ve never understood why on God’s green earth any man would talk to any woman at the workplace about her appearance, personal relationships or sex life, I know it happens, and I’m glad something is finally being something about it.
It’s very simple, gentlemen. Don’t say or do anything to a female co-worker you wouldn’t say or do to your grandmother. It’s not a difficult concept. It’s called respect. And if you’re worried that anything you say may be perceived as slightly sexual, you probably shouldn’t say it.
43
I started to say suggest that instead men treat their female colleagues with three same respect that they give their male peers, but the bullying and crudeness shown by many men in the workplace isn't appropriate either.
Grandma it is.
4
The problems are far more pervasive than just the workplace. On the streets, stores, parks, everywhere women have to experience male privilege in the form of not only wages of 79 cents on the dollar, but also glances, "compliments", stares, approaches, advances, unwanted conversation, outright harassment, uninvited physical contact and rape. I don't blame that Teen Vogue writer for her sentiments at all. Considering who long and far this has gone one, a huge punitive backlash is only natural.
4
If true he is a criminal. If untrue his lawyer should deny the charge. We as a society should demand no less. There needs to be a full understanding of what took place so that all concern are held accountable.
It’s great that President Trump is doing something no President in History has ever done! He is empowering women to openly confront their abusers without fear.
Thank You President Trump!
!
5
The Roy Moore issue has spawned a new era of women abandoning fear of men and calling them out for misconduct and abusive treatment. This catharsis is healthy but it results in a certain cynicism that is not healthy. Most men are decent human beings respectful of women. But the spate of allegations and admissions of sexual misconduct has produced in me a mindset that I am no longer surprised by the latest news and who may be implicated and I am actually expecting to hear and read about many more Matt Lauers, Al Frankens, John Conyers, Kevin Spaceys, etc etc etc The effect is numbing, and each morning I awaken I am surprised if we can get through a day free of stories like these. Not that those stories should be suppressed - on the contrary they need to continue if for no other reason to deter future incidents. To think that Jimmy Carter was roundly castigated for saying he lusts in his heart. If only that were the only thing the men mentioned above and other like them were guilty of.
3
Most men failed to stop this behavior in other men, making all men culpable. There are no clean hands here.
4
Not all men, but enough. The ones who didn't actually harass were complicit in their silence.
1
I think it's beyond absurd to think that no one had any idea Matt Lauer was up to something when the guy had a button on his desk that locked the door to his office. Why on earth would he need such a thing? Who installed it? I'd love to get a look at the requisition form and see what kind of rationale he used for needing it. Do all the on-air people have James Bond-like remote locking doors?
9
It says in the article that the "talent" had these locks because of concern for their personal safety. With everybody packin' heat these days and barging in wherever to express their rage about whatever, the idea was to lock dangerous people out.
Not to lock the prey in.
We are part of nature. Does anyone know about our species? And why is everyone reading in between the lines? Enough said.
3
Now we have purges in our own country, with people being thrown out of work, ruined for ever, over accusations which are totally unproven, and in most cases, fairly trivial.
Basically, our media is under attack, which fits the standard pattern of political purges everywhere. Every day, we become more and more like Stalin's Soviet Union. When will it stop?
2
The mainstream media is under attack because they havent been doing their job for years. It was downright embarrassing how much they worshipped our last President and were afraid to write anything critical of him even though there was an overload of material.
2
It will stop when men realize it's not OK to harass a woman whether by innuendo, unwanted advances etc. Is that clear enough for you?
8
Interesting theory, except for that part where most of the accused are admitting they did it. Yours is a novel approach to delegitimizing the very real experiences of women in this country, though.
4
Connect the dots.
Start with domestic violence.
Men who aren't famous, or powerful, or even known at all. But men who believe they have the right to beat, assault, rape, and even kill their wives/girlfriends. And the victims of this violence who have no recourse at all, except ineffectual orders of protection. No high priced lawyers to act for them.
Move to the workplace, not the workplaces of Hollywood or television, but retail, restaurants, the places where most Americans work. Do you honestly think these places are free of sexual harassment, abuse, and threats of losing a job? Power of a man, or men, exist in those workplaces, too.
When you settle down to watch football, or basketball, think about all the professional athletes exposed as abusers. Remember that punch in the elevator?
The point is that the "conversation" we're having about the workplace completely ignores the history of male conduct toward women, ignores centuries of law that made women men's property, literally.
And that's really what we're dealing with here, whether in the living room or boardroom.
Women are property. Objects. Women are, essentially, powerless against male assault, historically justified.
It's not a "witch hunt" or McCarthyism.The Weinsteins, the Roses, the Lauers face a new wave of women fighting to end being treated like powerless property.
It won't succeed if historic context and historical justification isn't a basis for the discussion.
Even the pimp on the street corner prospers.
25
I agree with everything you said up to it is not a witch hunt. It most certainly is. These are not women in abusive relationships and we absolutely are ignoring the biological drives of our species, especially males. These are high-profile claims of unwanted sexual advances in high-profile workplaces. These women have resources. There are women without any resources hiding in shelters, women being abused and actually raped every day. Attacking high-profile men for workplace sex is just numbing the population while the government walks toward war with North Korea. I think it's more comfortable (and titillating) for people to discuss the details of sex acts with luminaries than to address the problems of actual rape and violence happening on the street.
1
As a female with 40 years in the workplace, I can tell you that Hr usually doesn’t do anything when you bring a harassment claim to them. Instead you are interrogated, and told that it must be your fault. If any action is taken against the abuser, you are now a pariah with no future in the company. I’ve had it happen to me and seen it happen to others. It’s easier to keep quiet and move on to another company.
2
Lauer was fired and rightly so. But it should have gone much beyond this if it had been reported at the time because we have an accusation of rape which so far he has not been denied. I feel deep sorrow for all the women involved and especially the woman reporting being raped. She said she was traumatized and did not want to lose her job. This feeling is understandable but if she had reported what happened at the time to not only Human Resources but to the police then Lauer could have been investigated and possibly prosecuted and if found guilty convicted of a vicious crime. This incident was not just sexual harassment but a major violent crime. This crime reportedly occurred just 16 years ago. Again my intent is in no way to blame the victim here but to argue for her rights and all those victimized by forcefully arguing that such crimes be reported and prosecuted.
6
Lovely idea in theory. And this woman would have been ridiculed and fired by NBC, a company that would have gone to every length necessary to protect their investment, who had a high powered lawyer of his own. And even if, somehow, she got a police officer and a prosecutor to bite on the case, she'd have been utterly dragged and victimized again, both in the court of law by NBC and Laurer's high powered attorneys, but in the court of public opinion as well.
I mean, look at the comments here even this morning, where Mr. Laurer has issued an apology and has not specifically denied any allegation. Look at the lengths people are going even now to defend him. What do you think would have happened to that woman in 2001?
Could you really expect any woman have chosen to report under those circumstances?
7
The whole point in this current moment of women coming forward about sexual assault/harassment in the workplace is that until now she would not have been believed and there would be no repercussions. The system has been protecting men, not women.
7
What ever happened to dinner, flowers and good old fashioned courtship?
Before I met the love of my life, I certainy kept "busy", but I never tricked or coerced any women to become intimate with me.
"No means NO"
12
Dinner and flowers represent a form on insidious male privilege that is the root of all of this. Bottom line, do not have contact with a woman unless she has clearly indicated she is okay with it.
4
Why is it that two very " special " people are getting an complete pass when it comes to the allegations that were made against them . Donald T. And Roy M. have had many accusations made against them for sexual misconduct / abuse / harassment . Many famous American actors have lost everything without so much as an hearing . Two classes?
8
Please tell me how President Trump and Senate candidate Roy Moore have 'gotten a pass? NBC and the Washington Post did what they could to swing the election to Hillary but it didn't work and you're still upset. Now you're hoping the democrats can steal a Senate seat in Alabama based on forty year old allegations. Perhaps you need to let it go and find a new hobby?
Thousands of women are harassed each and every day and most men don't seem to care, a handful of men get busted for it and suddenly men are up in arms and talking about being nervous and/or fearful. Welcome to our world guys, we've been nervous and fearful for centuries.
29
how far do we go with firing. maybe it should be like an amnesty for people illegaly in the usa. we allowed them to be here and hired them without caring if they were legal or not. With those who took unfair advantage of their power over women to varying degrees unless there was forced sex, in which case criminal charges need to be levied in many cases it seems to me people need to let the guilty who were exploiting women when society looked the other way, confess, apologize, pay restitution where appropriate and in many cases keep their jobs.
He probably hit on Ann Curry and she told where to go. Then he had her kicked out.
For me there is no one in the media who thinks they are so self important, and all that with nothing, I mean nothing to back it up than Matt Lauer. Always struck me as empty inside and a lost person.
11
I think all these allegations is a result of Trump getting away with the crude sexual behavior as a revenge of all the woman who are banding together to let men know that enough is enough and we are not taking it anymore. Trump should have been brought to trial for his reputation against women, then we wouldn't be in this political down fall. Women have been afraid to come out, but the flood gates are wide open now thanks to Trump's non-punishment.
4
It is hard to read the comments of men and others who question women who report harassment and misconduct. Those words do soften the actual act he is accused of, which is rape.
6
I don't support sexual harassment or rape under any circumstances but the recent continuing flurry of allegations that only makes the lawyers happy
sets a very disturbing precedent that any man is assumed guilty and all a
woman has to do is make an allegation. I have enough friends and relatives who have been divorced to know for sure that women can be scheming
liars if it is to their advantage. No man should be fired based upon mere allegations. At minimum a thorough investigation is necessary before any action is taken. Nobody should be tried and convicted in the court of public opinion for behavior decades ago that cannot be proven. I say set a strict standard going forward but leave the past alone unless past behavior seriously calls to question your credibility and fitness for office.
1
Wait, let me get this straight. He asked her to unbutton her blouse...and she said “no way! Get back to work Matt!” and then she went immediately to HR? No? She unbuttoned her blouse, had sex with him, went to a nurse (that part about passing out is also a little mysterious) and then kept working there for one year and waited 3 years to mention it? A field producer at a major network newscast is usually a pretty strong and intelligent person, who knows where to go for information or assistance. And news producers don’t unusually get intimidated by people in positions of power. Something is missing from this incomplete story; maybe what’s missing is the 25 million dollars that NBC doesn’t want to pay to Lauer anymore after making so many costly financial blunders lately. I’m no Lauer fan...I find him unctuous and icky, but I do believe in the concept that there are at least 2 sides to every story. And I need more information before deciding who or what happened in this particular story.
4
I could not be happier to see this creep fall. I recall how he abused Ann Curry on air (daily) and his mistreatment of Secretary Clinton should have brought his firing over a year ago. I salute and support every woman who feels she can come forward and out men (and women). They have no business being "icons" or on-air. NBC should be chastised for allowing it to go on for years. They knew and turned a blind eye.
11
"Mistreatment"? He is a news reader and as such did his job. Perhaps she should have gone on MSNBC or the Rachel Maddow Show where they lob softballs on people of their ilk.
I can not believe Matt Lauer et. al. make so much money reading Associated Press reports. Without AP Matt Lauer would not have had much to say.
4
Michel Foucault was right. The West's obsession with sexuality and identity puts the lie to the "myth of repression' and is revealed in the 'incitement to discourse.' The idea that in entertainment we can forever dwell on sex, violence and transgressive art and not have casualties is a fools game. Pulling back the curtain behind the stage is enlightening as to the devastation that our drive to liberation and autonomy have produced. Ah! But the show must go on.
2
How is this news?
Anyway, out here in California, we have pretty solid rules regarding sexual harassment in the workplace. Pretty solid rules about whistleblower protection, too. It's part of the terms of employment.
So when you violate the terms of your employment, the employer has every right to take action. Action comes in many forms depending on the severity of the violation. It has nothing to do with "proving people guilty" and that kind of thing. That's silly CSI television stuff. Employers give employees with credible stories the benefit of the doubt, because it's the workplace and people are afforded the right feel safe. Period. Not crimes, not committed on public property. Read: workplace.
And I'm only thinking about classic harassment type stuff. Like sending solicitation-type emails, stalking people, making comments that are inappropriate to the work and setting that you're in. Low grade joke pictures like Al Franken. Locker room talk.
Speaking of our President, didn't several women already come out and tell stories of how he sexually harassed them? They missed the trend, so they're lost to history. Who's his employer anyway?
Aside from all that, way way way way over at the other end of the spectrum, is what Matt Lauer did. That's not even the same dimension type stuff. How are people defending him? Don't think he's worth the liability, and NBC thought so too.
8
This railroading of men's careers over "allegations" is absolutely crazy. I have had many relations go south in the 1980s, 1990s and any one of them can show up at my job today and say I did whatever. However, I know surely they were ALL consensual but I would not be able to prove that today - 20+ years later, I do not remember events. I was working with some of these girls - not in my own department but in other departments. In Matt's case here, why were these women silent long time ago? WHY? No one had their tongues tied. It is the same as when one is getting married, the preacher says if someone has something to say, say it now or forever keep shut. I think we are on a bad path here, a woman comes out of obscurity for her 15 minutes of fame and blames one guy and then there is a whole barrage of jilted lovers showing up to destroy the guy and his marriage because why they were not chosen long time ago. NBC should not have fired Matt - and BTW I have NEVER seen his show on TV. NEVER...
2
The women-not “girls” as you describe them, which is quite telling-who come forward are certainly not doing it for what you refer to as “their 15 minutes of fame.” Indeed, I suspect the majority of them request anonymity. It is extremely painful and difficult to report these kinds of experiences. It brings up feelings of shame, embarrassment and humiliation, and all too often subjects the victim to unfair derision and scrutiny. It is indeed a brave act to come forward. And the more women do so, the safer the work environment will be for all women.
14
Sexual Harassment works both ways people. I have had women touch me in a way that could be misinterpretation to mean something sexual, and I walk away wondering and confused what they really meant by that touch. I didn't go running to the local police or newsroom and turn them in over it. This whole sexual harassment issue is getting out of hand.
I am not saying that Matt Lauer isn't guilty, but we need to be really careful when we cry wolf.
2
The difference is that women have a right to set the bar at zero if and when they choose. Comparing that to the situation you describe is more tone deaf male privilege. It's not the same just because the roles are reversed.
3
Seriously, what is going on at NBC? I wouldn't want to work there for all the money in the world.
If they want to show they've changed, bring back Ann Curry and fire all those guys making sexist jokes. I'm sure this is only the tip of the iceberg. An environment like what is described in this article does not get that way overnight.
8
Reporter's use of the word "involvement" isn't right, if this was sexual coercion by a man in power. Important story otherwise: "involvement with the woman who made the complaint began while they were in Sochi, Russia, to cover the Winter Olympics in 2014, and that their involvement continued after they returned to New York, according to two people briefed on the meeting."
3
As a viewer, I always changed channels because of a hostility I always sensed. Reminder: sexual harassment is not about sex, it's about power and control. I never understood why he was hired and stayed on for so long. I always found him repulsive.
7
As a male parent of two girls about to enter the workplace I could not be happier about this avalanche. Please women speak up.....let us clean this mess up so my kids can be judged on their capabilities and not their bodies.
12
I am grateful that companies are finally taking action on allegations which are being made public. I'm 54 and have been living with this my entire life. From sexual innuendo to overt sexual passes which were unwanted. However, I want people to remember Anita Hill, and how Matt Lauer interviewed Hillary. Those are the most insidious forms of sexism where these women were marginalized at the hands of predators. And you can be sure there were oh so many more.
148
For me, this all crystalized with Ann Curry.
Here is something that for some reason does not get said enough.
Ann Curry reportedly had higher Q scores than Matt Lauer. She was polling as much more likable than he was.....
.....and the rating were falling because Jim Bell, the Executive Producer, was really dumbing down the show. That was something I noticed from being a loyal watcher for 17 years. Quite frankly, the show started to become a reflection of what you could cleary see THEY thought about what the average housewife wanted to see.... From Kathy Lee boozing it up, to Kim Kardashian type fluff in place of news, at that time, the show started declining.
But it was not because of Ann Curry. Quite possibly, it was not because of Matt Lauer. More likely, it was because of Jim Bell and the changes he wrought.
But you know what happened? They scapegoated Ann Curry. To me, her firing was the culmination of the sort of hostile work environment that caters to men and excludes women. If found it painful to watch and read about knowing a fine journalist's career was ending because of the pique of a less qualified white guy. So I stopped watching--and ironically, went to Charlie Rose. Who knew?!
Anyway, within the context of what is now known about Matt Lauer, Ann Curry's departure deserves a second look. It may well have been that as a serious journalist, she resisted the fraternity like environment. And she was rewarded by being ousted in a humiliating way.
3
It is an inescapable truth that the behaviour we see in these cases is exacerbated by the media's lionising successful people. Appearances in gossip magazines or columns, articles about their houses or where they take their holidays. Even restaurants are recommended because they go to them.
There must be a large proportion of people who take this publicity seriously and start to believe that they are something special. Actually society does think that they are something special. Worse is that women regard them as something special.
What has happened is hardly surprising.
14
I personally felt Matt Lauer was very much disrespectful of women. That came across clearly during the show. For instance, he would ignore women's comment very often. I felt as if he was setting the tone of the conversation and the rules and conclusions. No such thing should be tolerated.
I also feel that even now, the women who work with him are in many ways submissive. That is the main weakness of the program and is a way to perpetuate inequality. The Washington Post has a nice article about Ann Currie, who in my opinion was highly professional and left the TV program in a questionable way. It is unbelievable how these predators destroy careers and lives. I am glad our society is Moving forward to a place where women will have a safer environment to succeed. Gender inequality needs to be addressed to have a society that is more advanced. It is very sad to read the comments other men make, showing their lack of understanding about the issue. It seems that we lost the ability to feel compassion for our fellows, and by doing so for ourselves.
36
The problem has existed so long, I think the men who are the worst offenders came to truly believe what they did was their right to do, women were less than they, though I'm sure there were plenty of times when they realized they weren't the match for some of the women they abused one way or another. It wasn't all sexual but it was because of their sex.
4
Matt Lauer has been on my wife's creepdar for years. I appreciate your comment.
3
I am sure NBC took the action it did for several reasons, they have been burned in the past by their "Stars" , have had similar allegations leveled at other stars that they bought off and I am certain that Lauer has been a problem in not only this but with talent - salary - ego issues that perhaps Comcast who owns the network had finally figured out internally how to deal with their talent with serious allegations of criminal behaviour or unethical behaviour and take that direct approach. More entertainment Companies are doing just that - being direct as to what lawful behaviour is expected of all employees and the ethical aspects of any position to be adhered to as a definitive company policy that will be enforced. Make no bones about what NBC actions imply, immediate termination and no hesitation in doing so. Obviously they are willing to defend their policy and that fired employee will need to deal with NBC outside of their former employer universe.
4
I recall Matt Lahr's treatment of Sec. Clinton when he interviewed her as a presidential candidate was disrespectful. Contrast it with his fawning interview with Donald Trump and it was clear he's not a journalist with high moral integrity. Guess I'm not surprised.
42
No it was his disgusting questions to Anne Hathaway that revealed his true perverted character. Hathaway handled him with grace and class and it was clear he was stunned that she did so
2
Things were so so different years ago, and I'm not saying that made smacking women on the behind was right, but it was so commonly accepted that I believe a number of the "older" men suffer from more from not keeping up with the times than being true predators. That said, Lauer isn't that old, and what he's accused of is far more imposing his authority abusively over women than a flirty pat. His apparent comfort with that level of assertiveness in one case sounds like there were far more abused women before that which led to him being so casual about it.
20
A woman said she was raped by him in his office. It's a long way from a "flirty pat" or a "touch on the back" to rape. If someone rapes a co-worker, you don't conduct an investigation, you call the police.
I take your point, but I think that plenty of men who are behind the times understand quite well that rape in the office is unacceptable.
7
Constance, I don't know what you mean by "years ago", but I'm 47 and I would *never* have regarded smacking someone's behind an acceptable thing to do on the workplace.
7
This may have been common in your culture, but not remotely common in mine.
1
"Soon after announcing the dismissal, Ms. Guthrie gripped the hand of Hoda Kotb, who was rushed in as an emergency substitute host."
I hope she asked first.
25
It is easy to fill a certain amount of horror and despair at the pervasive nature of sexual harassment in our society...
Such is the nature of patriarchy, an incommensurate number of slightly bad, worse or even worse #metoos - me, my cousin, my friend - until now all whispered among women, in families, always in private.
Amidst the whisper - a tacit feeling of powerlessness, sadness, and despair.
Yes, let's hope that all those falsely accused have the resources to restore justice in their lives.
But, throughout it all, let's have some perspective. Let's not forget about the silent victims of harassment, about all those women that tried to "follow their passion" but had to give up because the price to their integrity was too much. How many are they? How many geniuses have we lost?
Let's ponder how the pervasiveness of these types of misogynistic behaviors robbed society of half of its voice; and, in particular, robbed us, women, of mentors, of the dignity of being represented across society.
How much of hating our bodies comes from a media culture in which, directly, indirectly, and in between, women are perceived as through the ol' boys club lenses, hourglass or worthless?
My heart goes to my sisters.
64
I'm struggling with this for the reason that Lauer's behavior seemed to be a complete shock to those he has directly worked with for years. How can that be?
At Fox, everyone knew about O' Riley, no mystery there. But at Today, how is it that his co-anchors could not have know or have heard rumors, etc.? I don't see this as being possible.
And sorry, but I don't believe the story that he had sex with a women in his office who then passed out and he had to have his assistant carry her out. That would have been known to everyone in the studio immediately.
I cling to the belief that NBC had incontrovertible proof that was iron clad before ending a mans unblemished career.
20
Good point.
If everyone knew at Fox, how is it that all of them are still there, including OWNERSHIP !!
1
If you read the Variety story about Matt Lauer's accusers, several women said that they made complaints about Lauer's behavior over the years but it fell on deaf ears because executives wanted to keep raking in the advertising $$$ from Lauer's #1 rated show.
http://variety.com/2017/biz/news/matt-lauer-accused-sexual-harassment-mu...
This Vanity Fair article claims that "everyone knew" about Lauer's predatory behavior and looked the other way...they were complicit. It was an open secret.
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/11/inside-the-fall-of-todays-matt-l...
3
If that allegation is true, he didn't "have sex with her." He raped her.
This evening I discussed Matt Lauer's firing with my girlfriend who is a seasoned professional and manager at her busy workplace. While not excusing Matt Lauer, my girl was adamant that any woman who is "summoned to office for sex" definitely had a choice to refuse to visit that office, and therefore cannot complain afterwards. My girl argued this was not spontaneous, as Lauer did not suddenly surprise and grab her. The woman deliberately responded to Lauer's invitation to come up for sex instead of declining and walking off the job, if necessary.
29
Something to consider is that Matt Lauer made $20 million dollars under his contract. The fact that he is not suing for wrongful termination indicates very strongly that the evidence against him was powerful and damming. NBC did not fire him before very carefully considering their own situation. They had much more to lose than Mr Lauer.
38
“Walk off the job if necessary” is the operative term here. Easier said than done. Think about it. I am lucky enough to have a job I love; I’m also freer than most in that I have no dependents. If you made me “walk off my job,” I’d lose that beloved work; I’d abruptly terminate long-term projects that mean a lot to me. I’d have almost no chance of finding an equivalent position, certainly not without moving to a different area (thus losing my circle of friends and familiar surroundings also.) I’d lose my health insurance. I probably couldn’t keep paying my mortgage, thus also losing the house I love. And I am one of the lucky ones. For many other women, “walking off the job” means not making rent, upsetting precarious childcare arrangements, not being able to fix the car etc etc. Do you really think someone like Lauer should have the power of upending someone’s life just because she is a woman and he felt like it this morning?
66
@Merlin Atlanta
This is more of a comment on your girlfriend than on the individual concerned of whom she knows nothing or indeed the occupational and economic dynamics at work.
16
While NBC or any employer may be within its rights to fire someone for any reason, their reporting on this case and others has been disturbing. Short of an admission of guilt, the accused is presumed innocent (or at least should be). This tendency toward paying only lip service to the presumption of innocence is poisoning our legal system in all kinds of cases - from charges of sexual misconduct to murder. In this case, NBC and other news media, while retaining "alleged" in their verbiage, make statements that clearly indicate they believe Laueris guilty (including Lauer's colleague, Ms. Guthrie). Also disturbing is that several of these cases involve alleged activity decades ago. If women want to be empowered, then they need to speak up - at the time they are assaulted or, if they feel immediately threatened, within a reasonable time period afterward. And if the accused denies wrongdoing, then journalists need to report the evidence they find and stick to reporting the facts rather than attempt to try the case themselves.
15
The situation described here does not involve our legal system, yet. A company does not have to prove an employee's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in order to fire the employee. For most people, not governed by a union contract or an employment contract, your employer can fire you for any reason or no reason at all. NBC is not the government and not a court of law. The burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt applies only in criminal cases and only in a court of law.
15
Innocent until proven guilty? Whether one watched his show or liked his interview style has no bearing on this. I'm not here to defend Matt Lauer or any of the other men accused of sexual misconduct. In some cases there is more compelling "evidence" or outright admissions. So far this is not the case with Mr Lauer from what I've seen. A nameless accuser and an office encounter that frankly sounds a bit bizarre. He asked her to unbutton her blouse and she did, then ...... and she passed out? Did his assistant not find it odd to find her passed out with her pants down? NBC certainly needs to provide more definitive information to explain it's defensive knee-jerk reaction.
21
Well, I have to say that if I were Mr. Lauer's superior and I found out that there was a woman in his office passed out with her pants down, I'd be inclined to terminate his employment. I don't need to know if it was consensual or not. Either way, it's not conduct acceptable in the workplace.
8
Sorry, but Lauer’s firing did not take place in a courtroom, where defendants charged with a crime are presumed to be innocent until proved guilty, and I would add, beyond a reasonable doubt. No, Lauer was fired in corporate America, where you usually can expect to keep your job as long as your employer views you as an asset, and to lose your job when your empoyer starts to view you as a liability. NBC decided to cut its losses where Lauer was concerned, because once the revelations started coming out about sexual misbehavior that NBC had probably known about for years, Lauer was damaged goods, not to mention a legal liability. And by the way, when you’re an at-will employee, the employer can fire you at any time, for any reason, or for no reason at all, as long as the employer is not discriminating against you on account of race, gender, or age.
6
Nameless to you, perhaps. Not nameless to NBC. And Lauer's assistant was someone who Lauer controlled, and likely was very familiar with Lauer's abuse.
NBC doesn't owe the public details on the accusers. Lauer was their employee, not ours.
1
I woke to this news and was not surprised. But that is strange, since I don't watch morning television and don't know Mr. L personally. I have to say, though, that every time I have seen him on television I've had a visceral response and the thought that he is creepy. I suspect it has to do with his facial expressions and body language. Yuck.
50
There is no rush to judgement. These companies have known about these men all along and didn't want to kill their cash cows. When the information got out, they knew they were caught. Simple.
81
In 1978, my boss's boss, began putting his hands on me as he passed. I asked for a private meeting with him, told him I hated to have to bring this up because I admired him (which was true) and wanted to continue learning from him (also true)--but if he kept touching me, I'd have no choice but to report his behavior to personnel and ask for a transfer to another department. However, if we could come to an agreement, no one need know about this discussion. He almost fell out of his chair, promised it would never happen again and behaved perfectly afterward. Women, don't be wimps. Stand up for yourself.
70
kudos to you on the way you handled it. but had this been a different kind of man, you would have lost your job or never have advanced.
4
While it was your call, how do you know the limits you set with him didn't result in another woman being targeted.
2
JRL: This does not work with male bosses who also have a need to hurt others. If the boss enjoys firing competent men, hires women he can easily intimidate because of their life situations (single mother with child), or asks truly excessive work demands that damage (from odd hours to dangerous situations), your approach might not work. Such bosses usually have a pattern of replacing their targets so firing is no big deal. Think Trump or his ilk.
4
NBC chose to look the other way and also chose to bias their coverage towards Trump. It is ironic that Trump rails against the media but he had the media on his side all along. Shame on NBC for their despicable tactics!
33
I trust women's claims, 100%. This is an issue MEN have, not women. Men are the perpetrators, women are the victims. There's on;ly one reason why any man should be worried about this - and that's because they know that they've done it themselves. The women who have come forward are very brave. What do they get when they make such a charge - second guessing by men and women about their motives, their credibility, their lives? And what happens to the men who have harassed? Usually, nothing.
35
How can you trust Tweeden, who lied about the photo ?
Or Broaddrick who made contradictory claims. How can you trust both of them ?
I wonder if the pain Lauer felt while he was waiting for the ax to fall -- and he must have known it would -- was worse than the pain he caused his victims.
17
Doubt it. Like predator Trump, he thought he was invincible. Sadly, in Trump's case, that seems to be true.
5
One can only hope. Men like him live and die by power/status—it’s all they really care about, and they deserve to lose everything.
2
Honestly I don't know what happened, but i feel as if sexual conduct is being mischaracterized as assault, in order to get money out of men. Men come on to women, it happens, i'm sure if she told him to stop and that if he didn't she would tell the company what he is doing and he would immediately apologize. Coming on to women is not a crime, rape and assault are.
14
There is absolutely no room in the workplace for any sexual language, come ons (as you put it), suggestions, or innuendo. It is illegal. How is that difficult to understand?
68
Exactly. This attitude is the problem: men evaluating women in the workplace based on their desire to date them; not their skills.
6
One of Mr. Lauer's accusers has alleged that he raped her.
2
Speaking as your friendly local HR rep, you can conduct this investigation in 24 hours, if you can independently verify the employee's story, confront the accused employee with the claim, and they admit to it. That is quite possibly what happened here. No rush to judgement required. But, we will never know, as this is a private employment matter, and will remain that way.
30
Hilarious. This is never how it works.
Here’s the thing. Powerful men have this behavior on their resume. Most men would if they had that power. Because to have that power they must be ruthless and believe they are entitled to devour each and every person or thing. This behavior is not a result of women in the workplace. It is not a new phenomena; the reckoning is. These baby boomers are just too expensive. They won’t retire. They won’t go away. They won’t die. Their past behavior is the only way for corporations to get rid of these has beens. Take away their power now and somebody is heeling right behind them. I apologize for the generalization President Obama, President Carter, Tom Hanks and Ron Howard.
17
Is anyone bothered how details that are objectively wrong are seamlessly mixed together with very subjective,vague accounts?
For example this allegation from Variety would fall in the objectively wrong category and if substantiated justifies Lauer's dismissal. "Allegations ranged from inappropriate "games" regarding coworkers' sex lives, to gifting a female colleague a sex toy with a lewd note about how he wanted her to use it, and even exposing himself to an employee in his office before berating her for not performing sex acts on him."
This is then mixed in stories reported here and elsewhere that relay an account that may or may not be harassment. A former employee reports Lauer summoned her and had sex with her in his office in 2001. The unidentified woman told the Times "she felt helpless because she didn’t want to lose her job, and that she didn’t report the encounter at the time because she felt ashamed."
Is there anyone like me that sees a big difference between these types of accounts? In the 1st paragraph, Lauer is accused of behavior that is objectively wrong. In the 2nd paragraph reported in this piece, Lauer is being accused of coercive behavior based on the internal feelings of the women involved. This is troublesome to me. Shouldn't we impose sanctions against people only based on the objective nature of their actions rather than the subjective feelings of other parties. Am I the only one who sees a HUGE problem with the latter?
17
excellent points. It's amazing that facts and details no longer seem to matter.
All behavior from rape to sexual assault to harassment down to joking are all lumped together.
If we truly want to address and correct the serious issue of sexual assault and harassment it is imperative that we deal in objective facts.
Otherwise we become a mob and neither mobs nor moral panics lead to justice.
4
Based on this story, it appears that the sexual encounters with the woman who triggered the firing continued for sometime. Does this suggest a consensual relationship, or was the woman coerced and threatened to submit by Lauer's powerful position? I hope this ambiguity is cleared up and that more facts are released about the relationship, if indeed that's the correct term.
I understand that the rules of constitutional due process are not applicable to a private employer; violations of the company's rules are sufficient to fire those who violate them. But I certainly believe that the public is due more information
11
i'm not surprised. I told my wife days ago, that Lauer would be next. There seems to be a toxic culture in the entertainment business that allows high status men to see women as nothing more than play toys. But if you look at the talent base in the news business, there are many more women than men, reflecting the reality that 75% or the journalism students are female. Over time, women will dominate the new business and the toxic male culture will burn out on TV news.
20
Read this report in "Variety" (results of a two-month investigation), and see if you think NBC acted prematurely. NBC surely had this report, and other evidence too, before firing an employee who brings them so many viewers and money.
22
Why this level of behavior surprises anyone is amazing.
The media is not immune to this. This behavior has gone on for years in the media, it was just never reported. It will be interesting to see who the first print media offender is to be outed.
10
Interesting that many of the big name public figures who have fallen – Franken, Rose, Keillor, Weinstein –came of age during the decadent 1960s with the advent of the pill, co-ed dorms, and so-called “free” love. It was the generation that lead the way with amoral behavior. Please do not misunderstand. I’m not indicting an entire generation. Sexual harassment probably occurred before the 60s, but as more women entered the workforce, more opportunities for abuse were going to occur.
Sexual harassment won’t cease until we have a wholesale change in American popular culture where sex and sexual stimulation is everywhere. Advertising, Fashion, Movies, Television. Sex is ubiquitous and it is a driving force. To tame it, we probably need to go back to a time when dating was chaperoned and housing on college campuses were single sex and segregated. Boys and girls need to be taught about the essential importance of manners and respectful courtship as early as nursery school. Which leads me to another observation. Why are all the accused over the age of 35? It’s as if the message being sent is that sexual harassment charges will only be brought if you are old and ugly.
3
No, men and boys need to be taught not to harass and rape women. See how easy that is? Separating the sexes never worked to prevent harassment—the latter was just never spoken about.
4
Morning news will never be the same. It's truly a shame to see these prolific anchors and entertainers hit rock bottom in the worst way. My heart goes out to the victims that were affected. Keep raising your voices!
6
Perhaps we should just ask that all men in positions of power resign immediately, so we can start anew with a fresh slate. Of course by all men I actually mean ALL men, include trump and the entire GOP leadership.
13
If NBC or any other media corporation wants to score points with their audience by publicly and suddenly terminating someones career, then at least confess to a failure of their own HR department which was clearly snoozing for the past half century. And moving forward, what are the rules? Is consensual sex between employees of different rank banned? What period of time are employees allowed to counter allegations? What constitutes a fireable offense, and what circumstance would allow the person to be fined or temporarily suspended? How relevant to job security are non-criminal disputes outside the office? Why aren't journalists digging deeper into the relevant corporation's standards and existing HR policies. In other words, how do we know media corporations are not simply appeasing the current zeitgeist, and not implementing the same standard to their management that is not in the public eye?
9
As certain as some that the punishment fit the crime I am sure it didn't.
What ever happened started over three years ago.
If he deserved to be fired for something offensive he did, that thing he allegedly did has to be very offensive.
I don't believe something that offensive would take that long to come out.
This is not to say nothing happened.
Maybe something did.
I believe NBC has their own reasons to fire him but couldn't because he is so popular and did it now because it makes them look good.
I wont miss him as I do not watch the show.
When I worked I didn't have time in the morning.
I'm retired now so I have the time now but I choose to spend that time sleeping.
Now that he's fired he probably will do the same.
Matt.
Look at this as a excuse to do something in the morning you haven't done in a long time.
Have breakfast in bed.
.
4
Roger Ailes was just getting America accustomed to seeing lots of women in the news business. In another decade or two, women may be all we see in TV news, film production, public education, and Congress.
It's odd how little attention the sexual demands of CBS News execs on newly-hired women working there are getting. Since network news outlets are party allies with the coastal media, I thought they'd all be included in one story (and then forgotten,)
1
Lauer's the icing on the cake of all these allegations beause he was given the microphone, he was supposed to represent. Lauer knew that but used his power anyway. Yet I don't want to get on the bandwagon of impartial condemnation because I'm no saint. And I don't believe any of you out there are perfect. Women need to make claims as they happen. Fear of losing their job? Embarassment? And yet they turn around to demand that the perpetrator lose their job and face the embarassment. So be it, but please women, make the charge when this stuff happens.
9
This article and the one about NBC's troubles indicate that NBC (and I suspect many other corporations) was aware of the whisper culture surrounding sexual misconduct and chose to ignore it. That NBC would do nothing with the "Hollywood Access" tapes and ignore the Weinstein allegations is staggering. Forced, they have finally jumped on the bandwagon. Of course it is better late than never, but I do not for one second believe these allegations were surprising news to NBC. As for the morning shows, I could never watch them because the women newscasters all acted like silly middle school girls catering to the male in the room. It is time for America to grow out of its adolescence --especially government and business. Women deserve a safe work place. This country would be much better off run by women.
24
The next discussion MUST be--how do we educate our children of both genders how to prevent this and how to deal with it.
10
We won't make real progress as long as our lawmakers are shielding each other
with secret ethics proceedings and paying settlements secretly from taxpayer monies. Without those changes, custodians of public trust escape consideration; there must be a very deep misogyny in the country to support Trump and others like him.
11
Matt Lauer has always been arrogant, sexist, smug, and that's just a list of his positives. I have recoiled every time I've watched him faux flirt with a range of guests, and never forgave him for the way he treated Ann Curry, a class act. I also blame NBC for condoning such behavior. I was fired by a powerful man - once the morning after I told him not to touch my elbows. I was only 26. It wasn't a "serious" job, but it had serious repercussions on my credit rating for many years. It damaged my self-esteem. He fired me because my secretarial skills weren't up to par (funny, they were before he tweaked my elbows). I am one of millions of women who've suffered tales of obnoxious men who get an ounce of power and can't control their testosterone. I've had it. We need more women in positions of power, fewer men allowed to let their egos roam unchecked, and more women to come forward and not be afraid. I was afraid to tell HR at that company about this behavior. Thirty years later, I still am.
36
Getting fired does not impact credit ratings. Non payment of debt does. People need to have emergency funds. Sounds like you were irresponsible not being prepared to weather a job loss - no matter the reason for the job loss even it is a boss flirting with you. It could as well been the company loosing a large contract or client.
Turning down a pass damaged your self image? Or getting fired for not flirting bad damaged your self image? You should have been proud for turing down a pass and sticking up for your self. And it is was not a serious job it was no big loss. Non serious jobs are a dime a dozen.
2
What’s your point? When you get fired you lose your income and then can’t pay your bills, which does result in your credit rating diminishing.
1
Seems like there are so many of you defending Matt Lauer and asking for due process. I wonder if you were saying the same thing for Bill O'Reilly. There is a ton of evidence against Lauer. I am not sure why anyone is defending him.
15
She passed out? I must've missed the part where they were drinking. Having sex in an office really should be enough to get anyone fired anyway so beyond that the details don't much matter.
11
Consent is neccesary, but I guess you missed that part.
1
Interesting that many of the big name public figures who have fallen – Franken, Rose, Keillor, Weinstein – came of age during the decadent 1960s with the advent of the pill, co-ed dorms, and so-called “free” love. It was the generation that lead the way with amoral behavior. Please do not misunderstand. I’m not indicting an entire generation. Sexual harassment has occurred before the 60s, but as more women entered the workforce, more opportunities for abuse were going to occur.
Sexual harassment won’t cease until we have a wholesale change in American popular culture where sex and sexual stimulation is everywhere. Advertising, Fashion, Movies, Television. Sex is everywhere, and it is a driving force. To tame it, we probably need to go back to a time when dating was chaperoned and housing on college campuses were single sex and segregated. Boys and girls need to be taught about the essential importance of manners and respectful courtship as early as nursery school.
Which leads me to another observation. Why are all the accused over the age of 35? It’s as if the message being sent is that sexual harassment charges will only be brought if you are old and ugly.
2
"... Mr. Lack said that Mr. Lauer's involvement with the woman who made the complaint began while they were in Sochi... and that their involvement continued after they returned to New York..."
So, I'm sorry, but this reads like a consensual relationship that went bad. I suppose a lot remains to be seen, like was Lauer stalking the woman after she ended it, or something like that. However, if it's just a bitter ex telling all for whatever motivation, that's a very, very dangerous precedent. Either way, the network gets to shed an expensive contract at a time when television's profits are plummeting.
11
I don't mean to be flip since it hurts to know that all this went on at NBC, and, everywhere else, for anyone, male or female. But, my gut feeling was always that Lauer was too, too smug to be real. So now we know, his 'behavior' was tolerated for years - that might make one smug, no? I stopped watching Today when Ann Curry was let go. Bring back Ann Curry.
17
I haven't seen anyone on this thread asking why the POTUS still has his job? There have been at least 16 women who have come forward. The hypocrisy is simply astounding. I don't want Franken to resign, but I would like if he'd say that he will resign on the same day that Trump does. Take one for the sake of saving democracy.
We haven't seen the end of outing of perps in the workplace. My women friends tell me that it's always been rampant. And, I believe them.
20
Regarding the many who complain that President Trump has not been held accountable for the Access Hollywood tape and other matters: He has. It was known before the election, and factored into people's decision how to vote. He won. That ends it. You don't get another bite at THAT apple until 2020.
I think you're just upset that there's no official, or judge, or somebody out there who can make Trump not president. Well, there is not. Accept that you lost.
9
We lost? No. The country lost. You just haven't realized it yet. You will. Meantime , though, to your point about 2020, this is not about elections. It is about holding someone accountable to the law.
2
To "Here" --- We certainly accept that the nation lost with Trump's election. That he was elected despite his disgusting braggadocio about assaulting women freely and without consequences doesn't make his acts any less criminal and revolting. You say, "...there's no official, or judge, or somebody out there who can make Trump not president." You're wrong. Trump's flouting of the law can indeed make him "not president." In the case of the 25th Amendment, he may well become "not president" due to overwhelming (and mounting) evidence that he is mentally unbalanced. That is, if he doesn't tweet us into nuclear war first.
Bewildering that Trump, despite being recorded and acknowledging his predatory was, criticizes others for doing exactly what he does all the time.
13
Matt Lauer was a phony non-journalist from his first day on the job. He and most of his contemporaries in the big five broadcast media corporations are an embarrassment to "journalism". They by and large little more than entertainers and corporate faces. I never respected him and don't respect most of his contemporaries.
This comes as no surprise. But, while this is a problem, isn't the critical problem at the heart of his industry. That problem, the entertainment/distraction/profit nature of the news, will likely not be addressed in this generation, unfortunately. That problem doesn't involve sex or race, it is an intellectual and cultural problem that affects us all.
12
The part of NBC's statement I don't believe is that this was the first complaint. Organizations routinely squelch dissent and dissenting voices tend to either be silenced or the individuals leave the organization. NBC executives didn't want to know until now, when suddenly businesses are having a 'come to Jesus' revival of moral fiber. They are disgusting and complicit.
9
One reads that like other disgraced sexual harassers (and more), there were abounding rumors about Matt Lauer's inappropriate behavior for years. I am thinking of those who have just fallen before him e.g. Weinstein, Charlie Rose, Kevin Spacey, Roger Ailes, Bill O'Reilly and the list goes on. And yet, no one said or did anything, I say shame on all of those who whispered, held their tongues and did nothing but continued to keep the not so little dirty secrets secret about their co-worker, or boss, or colleague to protect themselves and their positions and their own careers.
How can someone work day after day, year after year with someone in a very close professional situation, and not know while the rumors and secrets make the rounds? I find the shock of Lauer's co-workers just like those of Charlie Rose's a bit hard to swallow.
10
What doesn't surprise me:
1. The sheer number of men who abuse women. I was a career professional for 30 years...I saw it virtually every day. Men who were respectful with no hint of impropriety were the exception, not the rule. I was fortunate to work for some truly wise and honorable men who I would call mentors, but they were rare gems.
2. The hypocrisy of the "moral majority" and "veritas"...I've come to believe the more you advertise your morality, the more suspect you are ...
3. There will be a few men RACING to the door of retirement to try to stave off the embarrassment of paying the piper for old sins.
What surprises me:
1. Willingness of the press to take this on...of course, many of the accusations (true or not-so) came with political gamesmanship attached.
2. Willingness of the public to simply accept it as "business as usual"...note that DJT was elected, Moore is soaring in the polls, and Clinton, still shows no shame (why should he, he gained even more power and money in spite of it)
8
Bill Clinton apologized profusely after the Monica Lewinsky affair was revealed.
we’ve had lawyers , sworn testimony and corroboration with Moore and Trump and they are STILL around ?
what makes them immune to decency ?
11
what "sworn testimony" from the Trump accusers?
If people are being selectively targeted, this current phase of American history will go down as one of its darkest.
3
I am so glad this is happening. As other have mentioned so many of us just had to stuff it for years and only report the most egregious cases. I did report in the mid to late 80’s when the bank I worked for was being bought out with another and I was assigned to travel to Chicago to meet over the new signs. I was in my mid 20’s. The buyout banks balding married late 40 year guy thought at the end of the day he could start kissing me and gripping me at my door at the Ritz Carlton. I pushed him off and ran inside. When I got back, I told my boss. He told me the guy was fired. After the signage project was done, I was told that my job was being eliminated. They wanted to only give me one months severance I told them I knew that males got three months minimum. I had found a better job by them. The combined bank was broken up a couple of years later. Looking back my job was probably eliminated because I rated out the abuser.
I have seen so many cases through the years. I have seen woman and men who blew the boss and were promoted way above their capabilities. Those of us who refused then became their retaliation subjects.
10
The difference in how CBS announced the Charlie Rose firing and how NBC did with Lauer is stark. In fact, about the only similarity is that both were announced by two women. Norah O’Donnell and Gayle King did not sugar coat it or soft pedal it, as Savannah Guthrie did.
And as of tonight, it appears that Andy Lack’s claim of no prior complaints might have been, um, wishful thinking.
9
I got the same exact feeling. Nora O'Donnell didn't pull any punches and Gayle King truly looked stunned.
1
Don't sleep where you eat.
This advice is old, but timely....not sure what is so hard about it for all the people.
5
Apparently CBS, PBS and NBC have higher standards than the GOP and some American voters.
13
You fogot to include DNC with the GOP. The DNC nominated Hillary Clinton, a known abuser of women. She attacked Bill's victims when they spoke up.
Nobody shoudl get away with sexual harrassment at work and I'm glad that companies are showing less tolerance of such behaviour.
That said I can't help but wonder: are the networks taking advantage of the moment to get rid of anchors who are losing ratings? Are none of the younger 'stars' guilty of the same crimes? The alacrity is giving me pause.
2
No one thought Matt was a nice guy before this. His attitude and involvement in the firing of the much better journalist Ann Curry, pulled the wool off our collective media watching eyes. Read the investigative piece on Matt's harassment in Variety, this wasn't some one time thing. He was doing this for years and thought he was irreplaceable and untouchable. What a sad place to be, where you have to use your power and position to get your sick kinks.
I hope we see more exposes, dare I say, right up to the top: President Trump, Iooking at you.
NBC now would be a terrific time to bring back Ann and the much more pleasant Tamron Hall. Who needs a dude on morning news??
16
Okay so Matt Lauer may have behaved badly. Take a number Matt. There is apparently no end to the list of men in powerful positions who feel the need to humiliate and objectify women. So What? We, as a nation had a national referendum on this issue last November, and we collectively decided that sexual harassment is not a disqualifying event. Donald Trump is the president, proving that all you have to do is deny and call your accusers liars. It worked for him, it very well may work for Roy Moore. Why aren't other men empowered by these bold role models? We need to stop tip-toeing around the elephant in the Whitehouse. I would like to see more in depth reporting regarding Trump's victims, one allegedly a 13 year old girl. (Newsweek story that never got any traction). Let's face it, Matt Lauer is a morning show host, not the leader of the free world. Shouldn't the standards be higher for the person entrusted with that position? I realize that the news media is kept busy with this president and his outrage-of-the-day, but there needs to be an in-depth look as his alleged transgressions. I would argue that should have been done more comprehensively in 2016, and we might not be stuck with a race-baiting narcissist as president. Trump throws shiny objects out there constantly. We need to focus the laser light of truth into his dark past.
7
Let’s be honest. He’s not protected *because* he’s white and male, but rather because people think speaking up will stop the gravy train. It’s about people putting money before principle. Are we really surprised that so few people are willing to make personal sacrifices?
6
Savannah and the other top people knew. They just chose to conveniently ignore the "rumors".
11
Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker and other co-workers of Matt Lauer who are expressing shock and sadness at this revelation surely are being disingenuous.
Variety’s article by Ramin Setoodeh and Elizabeth Wagmeister documents years of workplace sexual misconduct by Lauer ... widely known among the staff.
How can one work in such an environment for years and not be aware ... not hear the stories ?
Possible ... but not probable.
Matt Lauer’s co-workers ... NBC management ... those who knew, but said nothing ... are just as culpable as Lauer in my view.
If it were not for courageous victims speaking up over the past few weeks and the resulting public outcry, NBC management, Guthrie and all the rest would currently be silent and Matt Lauer would still be employed and abusing women.
10
We live in a new world. No more flirting, no more stolen kisses, no more of anything that has not been tested, aired and hung out to dry by our female brothers. One mourns for what used to be. Now it's "excuse me", "If you don't mind", and "with your permission." The day will come when men will no longer ask or want. There will be a serious decline in world population, stemming from the drop in copulation, and other animals will take over. Better the animals we have, perhaps, than those waiting in the wings.
4
It’s about respect and civil rights.
Has nothing to do with romance whatsoever.
2
That's your parallel universe, which entertains no romance whatsoever.
1
Yes, because treating women like your personal piece of meat is the _only_ way the species will survive. Get real.
1
While America is consumed by the latest sex scandal and trying to guess who will join the increasing list of fallen celebrities, politicians, executives or what have you...the Republicans could pass one of the most sweeping tax laws in recent years, one which will affect, mostly in negative ways, millions upon millions of low and middle income Americans.
Now this is not to diminish the MeToo hashtag...or the moral crusade many seemingly self-appointed social media outraged justice seekers have undertaken...but if the Trump White House and the Republican controlled Congress continue to get their way and keep populating the judicial benches of this nation with socially conservative, right wing judges, won't they have a much more consequential and long lasting effect on women and other groups, in terms of their rights and place in society?!
It is important to expose people in all segments of society, who use their power and influence to assault, abuse, humiliate and mistreat others, but sometimes it does pay to also keep the societal eye focused on the political and legal ball...were the negative long term effects on individual rights and freedoms can be far more damaging than Harvey Weinstein and Matt Lauer...
9
One can do both. Please stop acting as if sexual harassment is trivial. If someone trashed your ability to make a living, it’s doubtful you’d find it so unimportant.
1
The rest of the show went on with the usual giggles and banter as if he hadn't been there for 6 months.
5
Hard to buy that 15 Seasons into the Apprentice NBC was ignorant of Trump's sexual misconduct and racial slurs. Now 'out of the blue' the exit of Matt Lauer. NBC has a lot of explaining to do about these two predators they enabled for so long. It's high time the 'unreleased' DONALD J. TRUMP tapes be made public.
16
No excuses for Matt/Garrison/Trump et al.
But I now know why Mike Pence wants to dine only with 'Mom'
Too hard to defend against any 'inappropriate' behavior accusation. Mentoring only with HR present going forward. Not worth the risk.
5
The truth shall set us free, America. Sexual abuse and harassment didn’t just start. Whispers about victims of molestation, sexual abuse and rape were very much in the atmosphere, during the ‘50’s and ‘60s when I was growing up. However, these horrors was never openly discussed; rather, they was swept under the rug. So many women that I know tell of victimization at the hands of male relatives, piano teachers and well liked older boys and neighbors back then. Fifty and sixty years later, some are still too traumatized to share their stories. When you watch how defense lawyers attack the character of victims at rape trials, why would women come forward in general; and particularly in a job for which they were FINALLY considered in a top media corporation, a supposedly SAFE working environment. The conditioning of women in our society, from the time they are born, is what needs to be discussed. Look pretty, don’t dare be aggressive; and please don’t be an intimidating presence to men in the workplace! Women who go against that grain are too often demonized as B____ches. AND EVERYONE IS SO SHOCKED?! The Boastful Grabber in Chief had no problem in getting a large percentage of certain women’s votes — GO FIGURE.
9
From what was said on the evening news, his behavior was known. No one knew about the button on his desk that locked the door? So, what of the people who looked the other way? They are just as guilty.
5
It's extraordinarily interesting to learn that so very many men in power are unable to resist the urge to use their power to molest others.
It's somehow all the more surprising when said man has a familiar face that appears on the glowing screens we stare at all day long.
I'm just looking forward to the bombshell reports in the weeks ahead.
3
Oh my! Cry me a river. I can't help but think these tearful expressions of shock are just play acting for the punters in America's living rooms. It really shows you the regard these media personalities have for their loyal, dependent, hooked, addicted viewers.
When I worked in Washington, DC we frequently received the shocking news that a co-worker was gone, never to return, (14 in my 16 years there) but they had not been fired, they were dead. If we ever got the news that someone had been fired, usually for failing the random drug test we just laughed and said something like, "Oops!" We, or I, laughed because we were glad they were still alive.
The network morning shows have traditionally been the bastion of mostly fluff journalism aimed at a prototypical stay-at-home housewife. Thus, the "non-threatening" male host was essential but not cardinal element of the genre. Lauer and Charlie Rose filled those requirements more than adequately.
It will be interesting to see what sort of guy is cast to replace the departed morning mainstays. From what I can tell, CBS's interim host is as benign as they come. I hope someone like Willie Geist can finally ascend to the "Today" throne. But who knows who's hiding what and who might have a bone to pick with the upcoming men?
I still don't understand. Was he fired for having a consensual sexual relationship with a colleague? Or was it not consensual? Was it, therefore, criminal? What's the legal definition of "inappropriate"? Or is it simply a vague human resources term? We need to up our game on this reporting. Too many undefined terms and vague implications.
3
So Matt Lauer was so in control of everything that he fired Ann Curry himself, but wasn't able to keep himself on after a 24 hour "investigation" ?
Get it straight people, either he ran the network or he didn't.
Blaming him for Ann Curry is a joke. Their bosses did that, very convenient having him take the hit for that one too.
1
She was terrible. Nice but terrible.
Led interviews with answers as questions. Review her tapes lol
Also way too much touching Matt even when the rumor was he didn’t like her
Lauer did not engage in bad bwhavior, harassment, and assault in a vacuum. There is absolutely no question that his superiors knew something, are complicit, and /or colluded, to protect their 'investment'. So what are the consequences for all those enablers. Hmm???
5
I doubt someone gets fired unless it is a pattern of behavior and that too fairly extreme. Can stupid comments get anyone fired? I doubt it. If that were the case women would be fired in equal numbers. Fraternizing at work with members of the opposite sex is fraught with danger especially at office parties etc. Best to stay away from these things. A lot of these powerful guys in the news seemd to have crossed a line and then some. Yet we don't seem to hold our elected officals to the same standards. Trump and soon to be be Senator Moore. Women are willing to vote for these vile men. It is pathetic.
2
Tinkerbell your light is fading. Come on! If you believe clap! Tink is getting stronger! Yes, yes you can make it happen! Believe. Keep clapping! Abusive men will pay with loss of jobs, income and jail. Keep clapping for all those brave and astounding women who have come forward! Clap!
6
Now, even reading the NYT can feel like a trip with the White Rabbit down the rabbit hole into Wonderland. Is the late Mr. Rogers under suspicion also? How about Santa Claus? Having trouble with Garrison Keillor accusation...which is not proof of anything, nor is it at all impossible that it is true.
As the Wicked Witch of the West would say if she was here..."What a world!"
Why does the NYT imply surprise that trump used this for his anti-press campaign ("Even President Trump - who himself has denied multiple accusations of sexual misconduct - weighed in ... ")? It's what he ALWAYS does. Come on, NYT - do better.
5
Please. We are all so sick of these men who believe they are God's gift to women. And guys--here's a newsflash: Even when we're in love with you, we generally aren't dying to see your penis flopping around--even when we like what you can do with it later under the covers. To anyone we're not in love with: Buzz off. We really don't want to see your junk! Just because it is your favorite toy does not mean we are fascinated, especially when we're at work. And no woman I know EVER, EVER wants to see you or any other man masturbate. Sheesh. Figure this out.
15
He was trouble for years. Good riddance.
5
More than a physical assault this was a “mind f..k”. He had the power to make a 40 the old married woman unbutton her own blouae ??
What is that about?
Has a job become the most important think in life?!
4
"The woman said Mr. Lauer asked her to unbutton her blouse, which she did. She said the anchor then stepped out from behind his desk, pulled down her pants, bent her over a chair and had intercourse with her. At some point, she said, she passed out with her pants pulled halfway down. She woke up on the floor of his office, and Mr. Lauer had his assistant take her to a nurse."
Shocker#1: This is rape, pure and simple (if what is written is true). Forget about HR, supervisors, editors, blah blah blah..How on earth did she not report this to the NYPD?!?
Shocker#2: how on earth did this happen in an office and the nurse didnt know about this or find out or investigate why she passed out inside someone's office??
Shocker#3: Hello Lady, can you open up your shirt please??
is this 2017 or 1720? I have to pinch myself.
There is more to the story and than what is being reported.
7
Chandra, what you're doing is called victim blaming.
This definitely sounds like rape.
6
More coming from guys!
I just hope the Weinstein-Moore type brilliant journalism is used in harassment accusations, another round of McCarthy, Benghazi, "lock her up" paranoid fantasy we do not need.
I'm watching Trump's propaganda speech on the "glories" of his "Tax Reform". Every word was an outrageous lie. Plus he tweeted today, using the Lauer firing as an excuse to claim the executives at NBC should be fired for "Fake News!"
Trump never explains his slogans, has no evidence that proves criticism of him is not valid, and how his infinite lies are actually facts. In high school we learned about glittering generalities. Totalitarian tactic #1, the Big Lie, but never explain with logic, evidence, and facts why your lie is the truth, just endlessly repeat your big lie.
Harassment, couldn't it take up a little less air time until after the Tax monstrosity? All this important but distracting simultaneous news means less time to explain how these Republicans are massively lying to the American people about taxes. A sentence by sentence fact check of Trump's hideous speech as I type this comment would reveal his immoral mendacity (which is constant). An airing of the historical statistics of trickle down fantasy which debunk it over and over could be repeated like the "R" big lies.
In the end, this is a war between those who hate treating others as they would like to be treated against those who believe in the golden rule. All totalitarian tactics are as anti-golden rule as it gets.
3
What a jumbled confusing comment. What in the world does this alleged rape have to do with tax legislation. And please, how can you equate the Weinstein and Moore stories?
Perhaps Ann Curry said 'No' to Mr. Lauer
9
Nonsense he didn’t like her
You didn’t watch the show
He’s an ego maniac and she’s a bad interviewer
How did she know the door was locked? Why did she unbutton her blouse on demand? How did she allow him to pull down her pants and throw her over a chair and rape her?
I don't mean to be a victim blamer, but I must understand this. Why, at "unbutton your blouse," did she not run out of the room, bang the door down, or throw things until could get out? I don't buy, "I needed to to keep my job."
I fear these unexplained, potentially dubious scenarios are going to undermine the provable legit horror stories that have come out.
And I've never liked Matt Lauer.
6
I have no information about this woman, but I would be willing to bet the farm that was not the first time she had experienced some sort of physical or sexual trauma. The way the incident is described sounds like she felt trapped and powerless. And that she blacked it out further illustrates how traumatic it was for her.
I have to concur with the many previous comments: NBC execs knew and his behavior was an open secret. They just decided to go with the cultural tsunami and dump Lauer. Long overdue.
5
If you are asking these questions, you simply cannot be female.
Exactly. Not that I doubt that he's a slimeball, but she was very foolish.
"The woman said Mr. Lauer asked her to unbutton her blouse, which she did. She said the anchor then stepped out from behind his desk, pulled down her pants, bent her over a chair and had intercourse with her. At some point, she said, she passed out with her pants pulled halfway down. She woke up on the floor of his office, and Mr. Lauer had his assistant take her to a nurse."
If intercourse was not consensual then wouldn't this say "...bent her over a chair and raped her."?
4
It says he sexually assaulted her.
Am I missing something because the older incident in Lauer's locked office certainly sounds like rape to me.
10
This sexual harassment deluge has provided an opportunity for the media to dump their aging, high-paid anchors as they all seem to be rushing to do. I'm sure these infractions were known to the management all along but now there is the golden opportunity to end these contracts with no strings. All is dirty.
2
I guess Ann Curry is enjoying the moment the most! He pushed her out several years ago.
The management probably knew of his hand issues years ago when Katie Curic told them that he could not control his hands on her rear. I guess it took until now to do what should have been done YEARS ago.
10
Just a coincidence that NBC dragged their feet on Farrow's investigation of Weinstein?
Don't think so.
5
It begs the age old question, "Are all men dogs?"
3
No, all men are not dogs. There are plenty of mature, responsible, caring and honest men in the community where I live.
2
Yes we are .... but some of us are woman's best friend.
Yes biologically, but some of us can tolerate a fantasy without acting it out. Yup that’s how it is. And I’m “unplayable” in business. Heavy D said it best... Nuttin but love
...and there they go, like ninepins— actors, sportsmen, writers, journalists, with no apparent checking of their accusers’ credentials, at least publicly. This is not to imply that I in any way dispute what these women say. But wait!! What’s missing here? The women so far disparaged and rejected out of hand as liars have had the double misfortune of a sleazy encounter with the liar leading from in front. Justice, where is thy sting?
2
I'm convinced that had Hillary won the election, we would not have heard any allegations since the election against Weinstein, Lauer, Rose, etc.
The media had been protecting these men all along, and now, all of a sudden it's like: "Oh mighty me! Golly gosh! Really?"
Spare me.
Just as the media protected Bill Clinton all these years, when it's evident that the Clintons are washed up, the cobwebs get dusted off the protective barriers that shielded these guys for ages.
Let's not forget that Hillary persecuted Bill's accusers, and protected Weiner and Weinstein. For her not to know defies logic.
While I am no lover of the Left, at the same time, I don't think Franken, Collier and whoever else in Congress should resign. Leave it up to their respective voters. If D.C. Mayor Marion Barry can get re-elected after serving time in prison then voters should also decide on Franken, etc.
3
If the media was protecting them then, why would they prosecute them now? Did Trump help arm twist these media groups somehow to act? The media very well know that Trump wouldnt dare to, because he himself is a serial predator!
I'm a bit confused by some of the wordage here.....Matt Lauer's "involvement " with this woman started in Russia during the Olympics and continued when they returned home...? Please be clear.....did the abuse continue, but the woman declined to report it, or was this "involvement " in any way consensual? This vagueness and opportunity for conjecture is beneath the standards of reporting I expect from The Times.
5
For women, reading account after account makes them feel surprised--as in, "Oh, you too? I am not the only one?" Whereas men, I think, feel surprise that these things happen at all.
But for every woman who speaks up, there are many who do not, but it still happened. Most of the stories we read are about men with high public profiles, but it happens at every level of the workplace, in every profession. If you think there is a wave of high profile "take-downs" consider the magnitude of a wave that took into account every instance of misconduct, not just the high profile ones.
6
How many out there ever dated a co-worker? Even once? Married one? How does such a relationship begin? And finally, if it ends badly, can you claim it was all harassment?
5
"I don't know what happened, but as a general rule, people should not be fired over single allegations by unknown sources" and "I sure hope this was not a rush to judgement on NBC's part." These comment writers crack me up. I don't recall a single worry about a rush to judgement over Bill O'Reilly on these pages. If it's a progressive you love, give 'em the benefit of the doubt, apparently.
Mr. Laur will fare well with his $100 million plus in "earnings".
4
I say ... find out who the women complained to (the execs). If there are names that appear more than once, fire those execs. When you start getting rid of the people who allow this to continue to go on -- men and women -- we might get somewhere.
10
This did not happen w/o tacit support/overlook by the bosses. Fire them first!
[[The woman said Mr. Lauer asked her to unbutton her blouse, which she did. She said the anchor then stepped out from behind his desk, pulled down her pants, bent her over a chair and had intercourse with her. At some point, she said, she passed out with her pants pulled halfway down. She woke up on the floor of his office, and Mr. Lauer had his assistant take her to a nurse.]]
OK. I'm speechless.
Except...how did the "assistant" sleep at night over the past 16 years? And I assume they took the woman to an NBC nurse, so what did they write on the intake form? How did they explain her disheveled clothes?
Yikes!
8
Is there any dude who doesn't harass his female colleagues and subordinates---or wishes he could? Why no complaints of sexual harassment from men about their female counterparts? Might it be because women aren't pigs and just don't think that way?
3
Its time to stop naming names and talk about what needs to happen.
Step one to recovery is to pass the Equal Rights Amendment to institutionalize the equality of women in the Constitution. When the ERA last passed in 1972, a national war on women began in earnest. After a ten year fight for women's rights, the clock ran out and in 1982 the amendment went down in flames. The fifteen states that refused to declare women as equals were Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, and Virginia. Most of these are the same states that still treat women worst, especially women of color.
There has been an endless War on Women since Europeans arrived; whether African slaves, indigenous women kidnapped and raped, Puritan women burned as witches, the "temptresses" of men, child sexual predators whether priests or Roy Moore. This is US history. Without accepting that sordid history and making amends by passing the Equal Rights Amendment this current moment is just a voyeuristic exercise in naming and blaming.
The President, Roy Moore and their many enablers, both men and women, have succeeded in turning the entire US into a National Enquirer level reality show with no way to change the channel. Women's rights are human rights. Constitutionally guaranteed equal rights now!
10
Two more sexual harassment complaints about Matt Lauer? NBC should immediately fire him again!
3
The cheesy tabs have had a multiplicity of stories about Mr. Lauer and alleged extramarital behavior forever. I know who I'd love to see at "TODAY". NBC, please bring back Ann Curry in a prominent and regular role.
6
The Person of the Year will be #MeToo.
6
The woman had sex with him but felt bad about it? Please.
She could have gone to HR... or the New York Times. The latter, at least, would eagerly have taken her seriously. Instead, she made a choice. I, for one, don’t begrudge her that choice. But yes, she had options for dealing with unwanted advances... assuming they were, in fact, unwanted.
These years-old allegations aren’t always about bravery. They’re often about regret and face-saving.
6
Certainly if these men are guilt they should lose their jobs but make no mistake, the key words here are "allegations" which in a court of law are NOT facts. just because multiple people come forward doesn't mean we get to be judge and doesn't mean they are guilty. A mass murderer is innocent until proven guilty but a man in the media is deemed guilty based on "allegations"? I don't find these women to be brave when they all waited for someone else to go first. We all have the freedom to make conscious choices whether out of fear or not, its still a choice NOT to come forward. You CHOSE not to come forward. You chose to not stand up for yourself, that's on you. It's weak and a cop-out to make excuses for not doing the right thing. You think as women YOU are embarrassed to come forward, try being a man who is sexually harassed and yes it does happen. Are these people guilty?...prove it in a court of law and not by interviews. Oh wait you can't because it's all deemed circumstantial. Show me video, play the audio, show the proof otherwise its all just a PR stunt as a means to protect themselves from liability. Most of all, stop think this is a white person issue, that's racist and have you seen those in congress accused?
2
she was asked to unbutton her blouse and she did it? why would you do that? sounds like there's more to the story that should be investigated
4
This sexual misconduct goes both ways in the workplace. You need to put a stop to it immediately.
1
If you don't think the President is guilty of worse, I have a teen beauty pageant to sell you.
9
So true. Clinton was guilty. Agreed.
1
The "visibly shook" coworkers feigning shock and disbelief is a joke. They are all egotistical and fake, which is why I don't watch any of that garbage.
8
Why do you call him Mr when you call everyone else by their first name?
1
Thank God they acted so quickly on a single allegation and didn't wait for proof to fire him.
How exquisitely wonderful that Donald Trump is making America great (for the first time -- not 'again'), in its treatment of women in the workplace. Ultimately, may backlash to Trump bring us Medicare For All and a return of the 90% tax bracket for rapacious, greedy billionaires -- and s Constitutional amendment reversing Citizens United!
5
So can we have a conversation now about how the media coverage of Hillary Clinton's campaign was affected by the work of journalists who engaged in sexual assault. We've got Matt Lauer, Glenn Thrush, Mark Halperin, Charlie Rose, Bill OReilly, David Sweeney, and Michael Oreskes that we know of so far. And of course the king of the crop is the president who made gendered attacks on numerous women through the whole election.
3
My late mother pegged him day one. A vacuous Ken Doll. Until all women get it that they are pawns of no man, this will continue.
6
Not-so-instant karma ... should have happened after his disgraceful badgering of Clinton last year. But better late than never.
4
My word! You have to wonder who's next? What if our nation's President engaged in such despicable behavior? Oh wait, that's right, he did! And millions of sheep voted for him anyway. Shameful.
11
It was long rumored that Lauer was a rogue, same for Rose. Just stay tuned, many others to come out in daylight and it isn’t just “old white men”...
4
He locked her in his office and had sex with her while she passed out??? That seems like more than "harassment" to me....
6
Good grief. In 2001 woman fainted in the middle of rough forced sexual intercourse over a chair in his locked office and had to be escorted to the NBC nurse. Things like this go unreported at NBC?
15
Don't dip your pen in the company ink.
What about this is so hard to understand?
5
Perhaps Mrs. Clinton is smiling tonight, I would be.
4
why? Is she the President now?
based on this story sound like matt had consensual sex. Its not harrassment when the woman goes thru with it and is not raped.
1
What part of this do you not understand? "a former employee who said Mr. Lauer had summoned her to his office in 2001, locked the door and sexually assaulted her"
10
In reply to Emily J Hancock Geneva Il
She was willing! Otherwise she would have stopped him.
Harvey Weinstein's nefarious plan to drag everyone down with him is working! He seems normal now.
1
And some bright individual or individuals paid this pig 25 million a year and claimed: "they knew nothing". That's the real problem here folks.
10
I suppose (retroactive?) the rule is to never have sex with a co-worker whose level is not equal or greater than yours. Period!!
There is no such thing as consensual sex when you are having sex with someone beneath you. ;->
Also, your desk is not a substitute for bed.
5
Why is a certain PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES getting a pass (no pun intended) when he has been recorded and documented, on videotape, broadcast across the entire world, making horrible, antagonistically sexual comments about women? HE MUST GO, TOO. Next! Soon!
10
Hey NBC, Brian Williams is probably still available. He only lied. Not so bad anymore I guess by today's social media standards.
4
I am male, in my 60s, and an evolutionary biologist. Yes, of course, these stories show that human males frequently misunderstand human females. If actions resulting from these misunderstandings are violent or coercive, legal and professional consequences should occur. However, in my mind, some of the current cases also show that human females can misunderstand human males. We display, and if a female continues to pay attention, we males progress further. I've sometimes tried to move to greater intimacy (even to holding hands!) and have been told "that's too much /too fast". My response- to continue at the prior level, or to look for someone else. And in this, I match countless other males, both human and animal. If Lauer is like his on-screen persona, it's likely that "C'mon Matt, Let's get back to work", would have been met with, "All right, if you insist", and he would have done so, and looked elsewhere for another potential intimate partner
2
He locked the door and he raped her. One doesn't say "C'mon Matt, Let's go back to work" in that situation.
11
He is rich and powerful. He crushed the career of a female co-anchor. He locked the door. It sounds like she may have felt pressured, and not so much like a consensual game of slap and tickle. The network said they have reason to believe this is not an isolated occurrence. So even if consensual slap and tickle, having sex with coworkers in your office is inappropriate conduct and he should have been fired - and maybe the woman too if this was consensual and she was not pressured.
You happen to be wrong. This is about power.
I miss Walter Cronkite.
236
I fear that never again will we see the true journalist. What we have now equates to a bunch of non thinking talking heads. It's truly a sad situation.
1
Best possible comment! Bravo. I miss him too.
1
You said it just right: I miss WC too!
1
Please don't let me read about him going into "therapy" . This behavior is about overwhelming entitlement & power.. The only remorse is his remorse on getting him caught , NOT pain & suffering of someone else .
9
FYI, go to the Op-Ed section and you'll literally see a Koch backed political operative take responsibility for this firing.
Maybe Lauer deserves it, but if political action committees and DC think tanks are picking and choosing who gets outed and fired, is justice really being served ?
4
I don't watch the morning news programs. But I watched Lauer's interviews with Trump and Clinton during the election, and I saw a man with a serious problem with women. It was completely unprofessional. Today I watched his interview with Britney Spears and was horrified by his behavior in the interview. He took a vulnerable young woman and, with shocking callousness, reduced her to tears over her emotional problems and difficulties as a mother. She didn't even have a tissue to wipe her face.
What a jerk. What a cruel, nasty piece of work.
15
It’s time for all men in the public eye who have assaulted women or used their power to sexually humiliate or intimidate them to realize their number is up. Time to resign to spend more time with the family before being outed.
4
I find myself looking for a "tell" among the talking heads. I wonder how many men are holding their breath waiting for their own exposition. Except, of course, on capitol hill.
5
NBC had to let Matt Lauer go with all these accusations being made by various women. You have to congratulate the network for acting so quickly. They had no other choice.
He had a button under his desk that acted as a lock so no one could enter while he committed these sexual offenses. This is the lowest form of behavior and I can imagine how upset these women must have felt being alone with this degenerate. He also exposed himself to another employee. This is just awful.
Here is a man who had a great career that most people can only dream about and he lost it within a matter of mements. He was on top of the world one minute and at the bottom the next. He only has himself to blame for his stupidity and conceitedness. His career is over and he will probably never work again.
There was no excuse for his lewd behavior that has caused so much pain to so many. He not only abused these women but he has hurt his family. His reputation is in ruins and it will be next to impossible to undue the damage he has done. What a selfish and self centered fellow.
5
For once, can we not politicize an issue?
Apparently, sexual harassment, (like many issues) does not discriminate; it impacts all parties, all industries, all races, all geographies, all ages, both sexes and the entire socioeconomic spectrum.
So bringing up politics is going to do very little, except to get off topic.
1
No one should feel sorry for Matt Lauer. He brought this on himself. Moreover, his firing can be viewed as justice (finally) for the dreadful job he did in interviewing Clinton and Trump on that aircraft carrier during the summer campaign. After the hachet job he did on Hillary, while tossing Trump softball questions, he lost his claim to competency as a newscaster/interviewer. He now has just desserts.
6
Always struck me as a lot of these news and entertainment types were a bit holier than thou. Now we know better.
2
Trump promised he'd create jobs. It appears that the repercussions of his not being personally charged with sexual harassment despite more than 15 valid accusations against him has resulted in many lucrative job openings from the firing of other wealthy and powerful sexual predators who are not adjudicated by a spineless Congress.
2
Seriously? The only footage you had of Matt Lauer was of him interviewing Hillary Clinton?
1
Not condoning what Lauer did but seriously what kind of dumb woman unbuttons her blouse because her boss asked her to do it and then allows him to pull down her pants and rape her in his office -- and then says she didn't fight him or report the incident because she was afraid she'd lose her job? Good God who would want a job at a place that employed a creep who would do that to a co-worker??? Instead of HR -- why not go directly to the police and report having been raped by Matt Lauer and then gone to a hospital for a rape kit test.
7
I imagine this all started at the Special Olympics??????
1
Thanks Matt - now we can include you in the long list of misogynist (& rich old white guys) responsible for electing Trump.
I hope your wife gets her divorce this time (& most of your cash). She probably wishes she'd gone through with it the first time.
9
Trump. Trump. Trump. Trump. Trump. Did I say Trump?
7
I think all men should abide by the Billy Graham rule. Works wonders for circumstances such as these.
if only it were so simple...high testosterone older white dudes preying on innocent babes.
we live in a hyper-sexualized culture (see TV, which I don't)
tight clothes lot's of skin
blame not 100/0
we need thoughtful conversation about social norms....guys not totally guilty, as the press is conveying
1
Like banks, right? All that hot money in those tight little paper bands. Bank robbers not totally guilty as the press conveys.
7
On Sunday we're normalizing Nazis. By Wednesday we're crucifying Matt Lauer and Garrison Keillor without any evidence, let alone an investigation.
This is no longer the America I pledged allegiance to in homeroom in the 70s.
When this chapter is written it will make McCarthyism look quaint by comparison.
If there's an upside it's that we have front row seats to the downfall of an empire.
1
This is not vengeance.
This is the beginning of justice.
And the downfall of white male privilege to torture female employees.
His slimy behavior aside, the use of word "Journalist" in the same sentence with his name has always disgusted me.
Murrow, Cronkite, Fallaci, Francis Fitzgerald, Safer, Severeid, and Halberstam, to name a few, are (and were) JOURNALISTS.
Lauer, ORielly, Hannity, Rivera, et all, are not fit to shine their shoes.
8
Who's next? Al Roker?
Love it when another Liberal gets it. The Liberals started this when they went after Bill O'Reilly. Backfired big time!
Nope. Bill O'Reilly started it when he was being inappropriate with his colleagues. He went after someone, actually, a few people. You can't treat your work environment like your own private buffet. I've heard the folks didn't like what was on the menu.
Hmmm - aside from what all is going on and such, is anybody thinking about who is firing who here? Like, whoever just fired Matt Lauer - is that the same guy who has fired all the women he has paired Lauer with over the decades? I mean, bigger picture here...it's not like that guy fired Lauer for doing anything wrong, he just fired him because he doesn't want to lose ratings. Situations influence Dispositions, says founders of social psychology - a field of study created a some of the intellectuals who hid out here during the rise of Hitler - they wanted the answer the question, "how the bleep did that happen!" Kurt Lewin: B=f(P,E); Behavior is a function of Personality and Experience.
All women in entertainment and media industries should be given free body camera by their employers. Watch how fast sex predators disappear!
Perhaps the humorist Garrison Keillor can write an op-ed defending Lauer?
4
What about Trump?
5
Trump. Primary Predator. President of the United States of America. ???
5
Gee, what a huge surprise that Matt Lauer has been cheating on his wife and propositioning co-workers all the while!
4
I hope you are all enjoying the Steve Bannon puppet show.
How soon before people start figuring out the pattern here ?
2
Okay, maybe everyone can let up now. You've knocked off enough left leaning politicians and legitimate news figures to cover Trump for years and guarantee Moore's election to the Senate. You've succeeded, we're slipping into the corporatist dictatorship you prefer
1
ah oh...the other shoe just dropped...on the floor, under couch, in the office...gross.
1
“boys’ club”??? Typical sexist term used today...equivalent to chick club. Everyone are adults, not boys or girls.
3
Once again, I am glad I am gay. When it comes to sex, straight people - male and female - are bananas.
1
HMMMM.. Five years ago... Mitt Romney made the stupid, clumsy comment, "Binders full of women," and the liberal establishment went ballistic and had an aneurysm. They tarred, feathered and crucified Mitt Romney- MITT ROMNEY! Mr. Vanilla, Mr. Pure as the driven snow, Mr. for all I know conceived his children through artificial insemination .. and there are 2 serving Democrat members who groped women and paid hush money. Certainly a heck of a lot worse than Mitt's binders gaffe- wouldn't you say? The hypocrisy of the LEFT is astounding! May as well bring up when Mitt said Russia was the greatest threat to the United States and the entire liberal Media apparatus lampooned him the entire election cycle. Hats off to Mitt for not gloating and saying, "I told you so!" Now that is Humility and Character- far beyond what I'm seeing from Franken and Conyers.
Hypocrites! Every last one of you!
4
What are you talking about? This comment sounds like right-wing lunacy with an axe to grind about Mitt Romney, of all people. You and the rest of the Fox crew that came over to New York Times to gloat should head on back over to your neck of the woods... It doesn't matter about the political stripe of the person, people just think their sexually predatory behavior is wrong. Period. It sounds like some of you care little for what happened to the harassed, you care about avenging O'Reilly and Ailes. Well, here's a news flash, O'Reilly is doing fine. Mr. Ailes has no more battles to fight. Please, stay on topic.
The mere mention of sexual harassment by a female employee immediately puts her under intense scrutiny. The discreet focus and unwritten rule at very high levels will be in uncovering her flaw(s) for leverage if a formal complaint is filed or the gossip mill cranks up.
5
To all those who say the firing was a snap judgement, has any one heard from Mr Lauer denying the allegation?? So far, I haven't heard any.
14
There are likely many sweaty palms and lack of concentration in high places at news rooms, network suites, and anywhere you find powerful men with outsized egos.
10
Not if they are Republicans.
Clearly, the problem is endemic in American society. Those of us that haven't put another person in an unwanted sexual situation are surprised by all of this. The same drive that makes someone successful, many times, seems to, carry over to their sex lives. Being persistent and not taking no for an answer is a hallmark of a successful person. {“Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn't have the power to say yes.” -Eleanor Roosevelt}
Most Americans are sexually repressed; this sexual repression tends to create sexual predators. My fear is because of the exposition of all of this sexual harassment Americans will become more repressed, which, in turn will only serve to make the problem worse.
1
Lauer has been an arrogant loudmouth the constantly talked over his guests. Nevertheless if he is suspected of locking women in his private office and if proven true, he should be charged criminally.
8
I have also been groped and verbally harassed by many men. I work in a freelance world where people only get together every few months so it's not a constant daily thing that you can complain to to HR.
Let me ask an expert.....do men have more testosterone that fills these urges? Most women I speak to have sex on the brain maybe 2-3 times a day. Men I've spoken to have sex constantly on the brain. It also seems to be a power thing for men. Any comments?
1
Honestly? 2-3 times per minute.
There are some men who have sex on their mind all the time. There are some women who have sex on their mind all the time as well.
I don't think that's the issue. I think it's an issue of parenting. Fathers and mothers who teach their sons that women are to be respected rather than be treated as sex objects generally do the right thing. Those that learn from the locker room generally don't.
Sexual assaults and rapes are power trips, and the men who do them to have insecure personalities who must show dominance over some one in order to convince themselves that they are indeed secure. It doesn't last long and hence the urge to dominate continually rises to action.
1
To be clear, rape is about control, power and violence. Not sex.
1
Matt Lauer threw away a thriving career for lust, one of the deadliest of sins. Just goes to show that money neither guarantees happiness nor personal fulfillment.
6
Wrong sin. This is pride—feeling you are better than everyone and you have a right to take what you want.
2
Bring back Ann Curry. I miss her terribly. Lost interest after she left.
8
I haven't an inkling about what may have gone on off-camera but Ann Curry was rightfully let go from Today for a severe lack of talent. I watched her daily stumble through her few months as co-anchor and it was painful.
2
Trump flunkie Jeff Zucker fired her.
1
Of course there were more complaints. Do you think these guys are thinking things through or something? It's all about poor impulse control, and poor impulse control is not a sometime thing. You can always count on there being more shoes to drop, and that's why it makes no sense to try and mount a defense. I'm talking about you, MIchelle, and your dithering about Al. Franken.
Incredulous that not one executive at NBC had an inkling. Not at all credible. The refusal to go with Ronan Farrow's expose now makes even more sense. His story hit close to home. NBC has some explaining to do to victims, employees and the public.
11
I, too, stopped watching the "Today" show after Anne Curry left. I always disliked Lauer for his pompous attitude, especially when talking to women. Having a PhD in Psychology, I knew his demeanor was "different" as to his affect and arrogance to some interviewees. Having been through the "old boy's network" in previous positions, it is about time there is some justice for women in the workplace.
As one commentator wrote: KARMA!!
Perhaps Meghan Kelly should step into his role as a former new commentator on Fox and now on NBC
3
Savannah Guthrie: apologist. "I am heartbroken by what happened to Matt", as she was choking back tears. SERIOUSLY???
10
Of course this get turned into Trump bashing by the left. with the constant whining" but why hasn't Trump been fired". Pure deflection by those who want to brush off this agregious behavior that is now coming out everyday by the supposed liberal heros in the press and entertainment industry.
Face the facts - whether they are Democrats or Republicans, too many men in positions of power in politics, the news media and entertainment industy have gotten away for too long with sexual harrasment , and are rightfully being called out on the carpet for it - even the liberal hero Matt Lauer.
Karma bites back.
Liberal Lauer? Seriously? Friend of Donald Trump. Liberal? Seriously?
2
Deflection? Liberals have been relatively decent about holding these guys responsible. For instance, Matt Lauer just got canned, Harvey's career is over and I don't think I've read or heard anyone, right or left defending him, which is as it should be. Unfortunately conservatives haven't been as willing to hold their bad apples responsible, including President Trump. Liberals and conservatives should hold themselves up to the same standard on this, any time either party rests on political gain to ignore this type of bad behavior, whether it's AL politicians ignoring Roy Moore's shockingly immoral past, or Nancy Pelosi giving a pass to Conyers, it's inexcusable. I think people bring up Trump a lot because it's shocking that in this moment of reckoning where men are actually being called out left and right our own president has been accused of similar things by many women.
2
So let's ask the question again: why hasn't tRump been fired? His transgressions were grievous.
Thank you, Chuck Todd who just now (5:11pm) has addressed everything I said earlier on this blog about, When will Trump be held accountable and how? Maybe that's the answer, news commentators, the media, must continue to call attention to the biggest problem with the Men and Power, Sexual Assault issue right now. How are we going to address this problem if the President just sits there day after day with in your face comments about everyone else being called out and pretends he never has done anything to insult and assault women sexually? The media can't seem to get enough of celebrities in all areas all day and every day ever since this entire thing errupted. But everyone just goes around pretending Trump never did anything. Why? Because he continues to lie about it and because he condones Roy Moore for lying about it? The media must not be cowed by Trump. Trump needs to be called out every day, all day, for a great many things and this is not the least of them. Not by far.
11
What? No more where in the world in Matt Lauer? Ho hum, who cares.
Anyone still watching the Today Show and the simply awful Megyn Kelly and think they're really something deserve a swift kick in their be-hinds. When will fans ever realize? These folks could give two hoots about you. All that concerns them are their own self-aggrandizement. Another one bites the dust. Hopefully, this is just the beginning.
DD
Manhattan
8
He had consensual sex with a co-worker in his office. If he was wrong, so was she.
9
'Consensual' requires a power balance not found between employer/employee, adult/minor. Two news anchors with equal seniority and pay, ok. Two editors with same, alright. But that's not how this played out, apparently.
5
From the news report, it doesn't sound consensual to me. Another blame-the-victim.
5
"...she felt helpless because she didn’t want to lose her job"
If you can be fired or penalized for saying no, it isn't consensual, it's coercive.
4
The Today Show lost my viewership when they let Ann Curry go and it became the Matt and gal pals 8th grade lunch table babble fest.
16
With as money as Lauer was making, he could have hired some high priced call girls rather than hitting on coworkers.
10
And everybody at the network was shocked, shocked.
12
NBC requiring the two female co-hosts to tearfully break the news about their "dear friend" was almost as distasteful as having Ann Curry announce her own firing while receiving the kiss of the Judas sitting beside her. Why these women who call themselves journalists would heart-brokenly announce this "sad"news is a puzzle. Maybe they should not call their actors "reporters" because real reporters do not put a value judgment on the news for their viewers. the NBC "Family" is appearing a bit incestuous right now.
19
NBC, finally it appears, makes a responsible personnel decision and dismisses a creep. Congress, your move on behalf of the American people. The American people's move will be in November 2018. Be responsible.
7
3,176 comments on gossip and reprimand of a morning TV personality, while a fraud occupying the White House is doing his best, in line with Putin's instructions, to destroy our entire business regulatory scheme, infect our judiciary with political partisanship, and harm democracy worldwide.
This speaks of the priorities of the American citizens, and our media.
19
This episode is just another front in the White House led intimidation campaign against the press, and as such, it effects every other story eventually.
1
No man would want his mother treated the way Mr. Lauer has apparently abused women. The fact that Lauer got canned so quickly and the NYT itself was on to him leads me to believe his actions were serious and disturbing.
15
After he did whatever he did to get Ann Curry to leave, I stopped watching the show. Good riddance. He's despicable.
11
This will really only make sense when the US fires Trump.
11
Recall in September when Lauer condescendingly grilled Bill O'Reilly about allegations of sexual misconduct. Lauer is a sanctimonious hypocrite. I am enjoying this schadenfreude!
8
its just accusations. How come someone's life and career is getting destroyed cause of some accusations that you cant even prove. This country is totally out of control. This sexual assault paranoia is making this already sick society even more antisocial and asexual. Now every time you go on a date with a female, i guess you need to sign a consensual form thats its ok to hold her hand and stand closely. Just one sick society!
1
Obviously its more than “just accusations”. They could get sued for liable. He also has not denied anything.
5
"Two former employees recalled colleagues playing a crude game in which they chose which female guests or staff members they would prefer to marry, kill or have sex with."
Joking about killing guests? America has a serious culture disease....
8
Let's solve the problem and not let women work outside the home.
Just finished reading this and Variety, which has several stories from employees- what a shocker this is.
2
Whether through their political ineptitude (thanks Al and Hillary) or their unending moral failings (from Iraq to sexual harassment), liberals once again have proven that they are useless to anyone who is dedicated to resisting this country's horrifying right-wing. We're on our own.
2
Hey, Al, yes you Al Franken and now Matt Lauer.
Thanks for helping me win the election.
Roy
3
Maybe these shows should star women? You don;t see many women getting into trouble!
2
You have to ask yourself why are all of these sex charges coming out now. My theory is the leftist media has nothing but sex allegations on Trump. When Bill Clinton was in office the leftist media told us it's just about sex and nothing to see here. Clinton is doing a great job for the American people. So people have listened and applying the same rules to Trump. Plus it doesn't hurt that John Conyers and Al Franken are not resigning and that same media are protecting those two.
5
NBC sat on their hands with regard to the Access Hollywood tape as well as the Ronan Farrow reporting. Gee, I wonder why.
At this juncture, NBC should unseal all of the unaired footage of "The Apprentice" so that the American public can witness an unfiltered Donald Trump. I think we should rally at 30 Rock to demand it.
15
Matt Lauer is insufferable in his arrogance and empty suit presence. Good riddance to him. Networks pay these jokers big bucks, everyone kisses their overpaid butts and, lacking any humility, these "stars" start to think they are beyond the reach of civility and good behavior.
13
Quickly now, quickly. Gather your belongings. Security will escort you to the exit.
Quickly now, quickly.
3
I'm sure Mr. Lauer's kids are proud of him.
8
At last, Tom Cruise has a legitimate reason to jump on the couch.
5
Good, never liked him.
4
Like apple pie, sexual harassment out of imagination or reality has become a national sport and not a single day passing without hearing about it.
And yet there goes Donald Trump, untouched and still in office, rather than in prison.
9
Why does Donald Trump still have his job?
8
"Why does Donald Trump still have his job?"
1) Put down that copy of TV guide
2) Pick up a copy of a thing called "The Constitution of the United States of America."
https://emcphd.wordpress.com
1
Something is seriously wrong.
Odd how many comments here are describing a "rush to judgement." Are you even sure Lauer denies the allegations? What is missing from this story is that the NBC statement has "reason to believe this behavior was serial". There is most certainly information we don't know publicly, and what I see here, as a 33 year old young woman who has already borne my fair share of these types of behavior, is the dramatic need we have a society to stop doubting the victims. Maybe some don't know how prevalent this is, but for a serial creep, they will leave of trail of bitter and painful experiences for those they affect. I expect more to come forward.
13
None of this would have ever come to light had Trump not won.
9
Actually, this started with Bill Cosby. And let's face it, you and I and everybody else already knew what's been happening for a very long time. Now we know specifically who's been acting like Trump, besides Teump.
2
I can't believe comments from Times readers voicing fear of false accusations of men. Where is there any evidence among all the "outed" men that any were innocent? Is anyone fool enough to think NBC fired their lead anchor--who has ample financial means to sue--unless they had compelling reasons to do so? I am so tired of people focusing more on making men's concerns paramount over the deplorable sexism that allows sexual assault and harassment to occur. I hope every man who is wondering if he could be next to quake in his boots. Enough is enough.
19
YES!!
The Left is morally superior! It stands for the RIGHT thing!
Except: Politics can be a zero-sum game:
The heads being axed are not Trump's, but his bane.
Women.
3
I'm confused by the use of the phrase "had intercourse with her". It's an awkward circumlocution seemingly used to spare the nytimes the need to arbitrate whether it was rape or consensual sex. I am normally okay with newspapers reserving judgment until more details are available, but the current phrasing suggests that no more details are needed. If the act can only be characterized by a transitive construction, then it was most certainly non-consensual: the grammar literally objectifies her. I am loathe to quibble over such matters, but in this case the very attempt to avoid characterizing the act seems to have led to a characterization (which may or may not prove to be accurate as the story develop). I would much prefer that the nytimes comment on the ambiguity than try to dodge it with odd turns of phrase which themselves are ambiguous.
12
Lets start with them using the word LIE for what Trump does multiple times per day.
The reaction by Donald Trump, calling for the termination of those who report fake news, ups the ante for removing Trump from office. Sexual harassment alone can get a person fired, and if reporting fake news is also a fireable offense, why do we keep Trump as president?
12
I'm shocked Andy Lack didn't give Lauer a multi-million dollar deal to stay on the air like he negotiated for lying Brian Williams. I'm a journo too. I've been sexually harassed at nearly every place I've worked, including AP, NPR and the Voice of America. Mgt knows and just doesn't want to deal with it. Sorry folks -- thems the facts.
14
Just don't date and certainly don't have sex with subordinates. Even if the subordinate initiates or endlessly flirts. Women have a way of acting around powerful men, and from my observation the seem largely unconscious to it. There's an attraction to power, which is partly why men persue it. Primates exhibit similar behavior, with the top male afforded the most mating opportunities. We are basically primates. It's ugly and obviously we can't function in corporate structures the way we might out on the savana. So we need special rules.
13
How about what separates us from the other primates-- a liddle something called SELF CONTROL. Add in a dash of RESPECT and HONOR and you might not need to worry about being fired for sexual misconduct. How about keeping your tongue in check and your penis in your pants?
Stop.blaming the victims, or blaming some primate ancestor for your own bad behavior.
2
If you guys can’t function as human beings in a society of laws, why are you allowed out in society at all?
1
So the involvement began on 2014 in Sochi and CONTINUED? after they returned? Give me a break, if this unknown person was offended why did she keep it up? It sounds like there is much more to this than meets the eye. I am finding the press, employers, Times readers and others to be rather gullible and speedily rushing to judgment. I believe we will start seeing legal actions, and certainly none too soon. What is an assault? I hug around the neck? a peck on the cheek? or perhaps something more intimate. And by just whose definition? Does the legal system define these things? If so I suggest the Times start quoting code sections and court cases. Are we being objective here or do we merely want to sell newspapers.
5
Are you kidding? Do you really think they would have fired the goose that lays the golden eggs if they didn't have compelling evidence and the blessing of their corporate attorneys? Come on! The accuser showed up with her OWN attorney...NBC knew what time it was.
You can play these word games but NBC and Lauer understand exactly where this was headed. Pictures and text messages seal the deal. He also knows this could go from a flicker to a flame if he doesn't move along quietly. God only knows how many interns and former colleagues are out there with stories to tell about him.
4
While we are making assumptions let’s assume their long term affair simply went south. Perhaps because he ended it. Would that be totally out of the question? He may be totally guilty of something but I am not convinced by your hypotheticals.
Oh, my...how will he ever pay the mortgage on that Hamptons estate now? I'm so worried for him...not.
6
It bothers me that these guys are being accused, yet no one is proving these attacks took place, which is troubling; these women are all coming forward; and I will not bring the race card in here, but for the people who are paying attention, it's there.
I no longer watch any of these shows, but accusing Matt Lauer, a known family man, a man who for twenty years looks as if he supports women, firing him before his show, people want to know the truth. It's really hard to believe.
Charlie Rose is perplexing as well; he's such a great journalist, he's the last A-grade journalist left.
But Matt Lauer? Wow, come on. Really. He's been with NBC for twenty years; $20M annual salary; has this man made $400 Million dollars while he was allowed to conduct himself in such an ill manner? There is truly something wrong with this picture.
It all seems so one-sided; the women are accusing and the men are falling.
5
Ummm. Could it perhaps be that the men are committing these gross acts and it is the women they are doing them to who are reporting them?
So far none have been incorrect so while Matt Lauer has not admitted anything yet, he is not screaming his innocence either.
3
These complaints are a godsend for Trump.
Because liberals expect men to be better than this, liberals will throw all their offenders under the bus.
However, abuse of women is a standard plank of conservatism; even conservative women support abuse of women (as long as the conservative woman herself is not being abused. As for other women, the conservative woman could care less).
6
You don't think that Republicans have sent out teams of lawyers, PIs, and insiders to ferret out every single of these complaints ?
You really think that this is some sort of coincidence ?
Do you also think it's a coincidence that his Chief of Staff just happened to run a little outfit called the NSA before joining the White House ?
This administration is Nixon times a million.
This is going to get really, really ugly.
2
That's "couldn't care less." People. Please.
1
I found him to be cold and pushy during his on-air interviews. Bring back Katie, Jane, or Meredith!
5
I think it's commendable so many women have courageously come forward with charges of rape, exposure, harassment, and intimidation. These charges were well researched, explored, and the actions of the men - Weinstein, Louis CK, that jerk in Alabama, Charlie Rose, and several others are not up for conjecture and speculation. The homework on these allegations has been thorough. But this and the Franken situation seem odd. If Keillor's story - as astonishingly simplistic as it is - turns out to be true, then we've hit the tipping point to all of this. Because of the lack of information and the the levels of speculation, the court of public opinion is turning a very brave and noble quest for truth into a he-said-she-said popularity contest. If thoughtful investigations find Keillor and Franken guilty, then so be it. Consequences should be handed down. But at the moment, setting aside political agendas, and setting aside simply taking sides on all of this, this whole thing is in danger of going from a vital and necessary cultural correction to cheap tabloid fodder. Take all of this seriously, but be careful not to draw conclusions until conclusions actually come to light, and that isn't an instant process. Don't let gossip outshine bravery.
5
There was a picture of Al Franken behaving inappropriately.
No, there was not. There WAS a staged picture of a comedian and an "actress" goofing around on a USO tour, with a flak jacket in between his non- touching hands and her kevlar protected chest. Was it juvenile? Yes. Was it sexual misconduct? No. Was it forcing a 14 year old to touch a mans penis thru his BVD's? No. Was it bending a woman over a desk in a locked workplace office and raping her? No. See? It's not that hard to make these distinctions after all.
1
These reports read like obituaries. Isn't there some way to punish these people other than throw them away? Of course they were wrong, but this is a life sentence.
2
Using your position of power to bend a women over a chair and have sex with her, in an your office, seems like more than enough grounds for dismissal.
6
My belief is that the "visibly shaken Al Roker", was shaking because he thinks he is next.
5
I'd like to contrast this reporting to the WAPO article setting forth Roy Moore's child molestation. The length and breadth and corroboration of the article was amazing and justified believing the accusations at the first read. Here, there's nothing but NBC saying it got complaints, vaguely described, and believed them to be enough to fire Lauer, although we don't know why. I'm amazed by the comments by people who think they are able to declare definitively for either Lauer or NBC on the basis of that.
5
Maybe it is time to look into the sexual violations undertaken by GOP donors. They certainly don't respect the health, safety, and well-being of Americans. What are the odds they have been victimizing individual Americans with unwanted sexual advances and violations?
5
Sex in the office; pinching a colleague; fire him. Fine. But I have trouble when the accuser's husband didn't file charges - unless she wasn't compelled. Sexual harassment? No. That's a joke to a woman who complied because she needed a job.
I can’t but be struck by the fact that there sure are a lot of anonymous accusers in this story. That is, all of them.
Is there evidence other than hearsay by anonymous sources? I’m unable to put much faith in a phone call by the NYT reporter to her friend or ex-husband for “confirmation.”
If so, what was the evidence, specifically? Any audio? Any video? Any DNA? Any unrelated, third-party witnesses with nothing to gain? These days all cellphones are able to record, so if there is a repeated crime here, I would expect some evidence.
On the other hand, there is ample motivation to make a false accusation. Join the club! Civil suit, any one? Maybe a book deal someday?
In the absence of evidence, it would be prudent to remain at least somewhat skeptical of this recent hysteria.
Unpopular view in the witch hunt crowd, but it needs to be said.
5
Would your position be the same if the anonymous, ashamed, embarrassed, career crushed accusor was your daughter or wife... Doc ?
1
>Doctor
Prudent to remain skeptical.
Why? NBC had all the evidence they needed when they sacked Lauer - maybe even including his admission.
Do you really think these legal.depts are going to allow release of all details they might be in possession of, just to tittillate you? Most likely not. If you're that interested in other peoples sex lives there are websites for that.
It's not that he was aggressive with Clinton as you characterize it. He just kept asking her stupid questions about things like her emails. And not talking about issues. Aggressive questioning would have been fine. He was more bullying and petty.
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And completely fawning over her opponent, groveling is what I saw. And I find it hysterical that on THIS comment thread Lauer is made out to be some sort of Cllinton groupie!!!
I think that Matt Lauer deserved some due process here instead of the knee jerk reaction that he got. Why are we so willing to believe every person now who makes these sort of accusations without even attempting to hear the other side? I read Mr. Lauer's accuser's account of the sexual harrassment incident and it frankly sounds kind of ridiculous. "He asked me to unbutton my blouse, so I did. He then proceeded to sexually assault me." How about saying "NO" or screaming. This woman was in an office setting, not a prison camp. Are we such wimps as women that we do whatever any man in the workplace demands? I don't buy this story. If this had happened 3 or 4 decades ago, this story might sound more credible. Maybe there could be more to this story than was revealed. If there isn't more, then this story is a pretty flimsy basis for firing someone. I hope that the public will stop watching the Today show. I also hope that Matt sues them if these allegations are unfounded.
5
I have the deepest admiration and respect for the individuals coming forward to shed light on what they are being subjected to in the workplace. We need to give them our full support. There are mechanisms in place in large companies to address these problems but clearly the atmosphere has not allowed them to use them.
A few years ago, as a senior male executive in a large bureaucracy, a subordinate male employee began making advances toward me. I alerted HR and I instructed my staff that they were not to leave me alone with him. One Friday night after my secretary had left, I heard someone enter our suite. I turned around to witness this employee exposing himself and leaving no doubts about his desires.
I quickly grabbed my wallet and keys and literally ran out of the office. All weekend I was practically in a state of panic. The strongest sentiment I felt over and over was, "What had I done to let this person think this was OK." I felt terribly guilty--somehow I had asked for this. I'm middle aged, gay, happily partnered and no Pierce Brosnan. They guy was young (er) and very handsome. It took all of my courage to take the blob of jello I had become and report the incident to HR on Monday morning. They handled it perfectly and the event passed but I never stopped asking myself what I had done.
I can't even imagine the fear and turmoil of emotions felt by these individuals who suffered at the hands of people in power. They need our full support.
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What ever happened to Innocent Before Proven Guilty?
6
I think there was enough proof else the network would not have fired him. And if confronted, he may have admitted it. The public will know more as time goes by.
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Innocent until proven guilty is a legal standard. Employers are running businesses, not a courtroom.
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NBC isn't required to keep an employee that exposes it to risk. This isn’t a criminal court; it’s business.
Xmas, Macy's parade, big time advertising season. Better dress Ms Kelly up as a (White) Santa Claus, and salvage what they can. I will remember Mr. Lauer and crew for always advertising whatever is bad for the planet, while sometimes pretending a green facade.
We have to be clear about things. Most or all the reported sexual abuse complaints against people occurred before Trump ran for office. So while our President clearly also indulged in assaults, we can't blame him for creating the atmosphere that lead others to do the same.
We can, however, look to the golden rules Trump is now teaching our kids and future leaders, and about far more than sex:
*Acknowledge now, deny later. Despite acknowledging at its release it was him in the Hollywood Access tape, Trump is now testing the theory his voice wasn't his. Surprise! I said it was me but it wasn't me.
*The world, and a woman's body, are your playground. If you are rich or famous enough, you can "do anything [you] want," like groping females, and they "just let you." Apply lesson where appropriate.
*Age has its virtues. The Trump in the tape was 60, but he didn't get caught until age 70. So deflect. You are not the old you that you once were.
*Find a handy scapegoat. Generally, Trump lies about facts and tweets horrid things like Tuesday's racist video. When called out, as the press has, he shrugs and says something like "I don't know, that's what I was told." And say, I just re-tweeted what someone sent me.
*Offense is defense. If someone doesn't like you, just offend them, as openly and as often as you like. After all, they started it.
*If you don't like the real world, make up a new one. Spin conspiracy theories in a world of your making and force others to follow along.
4
It's amazing all the men (mostly) calling this a rush to judgement. Sounds like they are very worried about something ;-)
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“The 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, according to two women who were sexually harassed by Lauer.”
These are criminal acts. Not just sexual harassment but unlawful restraint. Sick. And who at NBC signed off to install this secret button lock?
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Women execs apparently had the same button. Lock them up ?
Has anyone noticed all these TV men are old, and maybe networks are taking the opportunity to use the allegations as a way to remove men that are getting a little long in tooth.
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I'm confused by women who say they caved to a sexual encounter because they were afraid of losing their jobs. What kind of culture have we created when any job carries that kind of weight?
I always thought Lauer was creepy and arrogant. Bring back Ann Curry.
4
The title of an album from the music group 'who' takes on greater immediacy: 'Who's next.'
When will society and the press look at the psychology of predators?
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I've read the article about his behavior and it is disgusting. Women who just want to do their job shouldn't have to put up with coworkers treating them like this. I am glad he was fired.
6
So folks in the entertainment industry, some politicians.... anyone else out there? (there must be more!) What about others who were involved with DJT? what happened to the original cohort that everyone heard about last year?
1
This seems odd to me. For instance, I resigned as chair of a beauty pageant after 3 years because so many women promised sexual favors in return for consideration at the pageant (including some family members, friends, etc.). I nipped it in the bud and had those women meet with other women. I do not pretend to know what all happened in this case, and I have never really been a fan; however, it appears to me that 2 co workers had an ongoing affair for quite sometime. Maybe the dismissal was because this was against company policy and the company is riding the wave. This does not appear to rise to the level of rape as with others such as Clinton. Men and women have slept with people of the opposite sex forever - think of JFK, Martin Luther King Jr., Cosby, rock stars, TV stars, athletes, etc. They just literally line up. At the end of the day, it appears that something is misfiring at this time. For instance, we are just hearing about men --- there were several women who hit on me, unsolicited, over the years. I was raised with just sisters and married a woman with just sisters. This behavior certainly comes up in conversation. I am proud to say that none of them would ever stoop to such low moral or ethical behavior.
1
At this rate, it seems there are only a few good men who can be counted on our fingers. Disgusting! Higher on the totem pole, greater the fall.
I am bothered by the space given to Mr. Lauer and his career at NBC. This is not an obituary! It is a firing of a man that, by all accounts, abused his power and position at NBC. Please spare us the highs of his career and focus on the victims and the impact his behavior has on them.
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Matt Lauer had a reputation as thoughtful and kind, and that personality came across on television. But folks I see this time and time again, where we mistaken demeanor and conduct as the character of the person. All of us, good or bad, have private lives, private perspectives, and other things about us that even people close to us do not see, and when they do even after decades of acquaintance-are surprised and flabbergasted. You can never really know a person 100%, even being married to that person for 20 years.
3
I think it was very brave of those women to come out. We are still waiting to hear from what the court has to say.
It's very disappointing to hear such allegations and I think a lot of people were very surprised to hear the news. I was very surprised to see the company act on the news so quickly.
The staff and coworkers were introduced to the issue right before the show aired, and I hope that they get to know what really happened in detail especially since some of them had been working with Bauer for years and he was a main icon on the show.
3
With some exceptions, I’m glad you powerful and wicked white men with your arrogant sense of entitlement and privilege are getting exactly what you deserve and are being kicked to the curb. I just hope that you white women who are leading this revolution will not abuse your new found powers of opportunity for change that you’ve been afforded. Needless to say, I work in a profession where you white women are just as selfish, self serving, and manipulative as the white men you accuse of the abuse of power; so don’t think that all of us are empathetic to this revolution of dignity and respect that you are cleaning house to implement. Your supposed and expected first female president Hillary Clinton is a classic case of the manipulative means of opportunity by which some of you will compromise your supposed virtuous intent to get your way to deny others the same opportunity you expect for yourselves.
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So how do you feel about Rep. John Conyers (black man and sex harasser)? Is he entitled, privileged and deserving to be kicked to the curb, based on these incidents of sexual misconduct?
3
There is an entire demographic of women who are being left out of this reckoning and will continue to be left out; agricultural workers, domestic servants, cleaning ladies, undocumented workers, etc. They have no voice and no platform.
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John Conyers played the rules of the game that White Society has standardized in the arena of what is acceptable as professional conduct in the workplace, so he must also be held accountable for his actions as well.
it couldn't have happened to a better person....he was an awful man after he made a former co host cry on national tv....his ego was too big for the world to have to deal with...tv is now a better place for all...good bye Matt ....but no good riddens for you!
4
What a shocker!
To state the obvious....again.....what about Trump?
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Doesnt Trump get the lifetime pass from you that you all gave to Bill and Hillary?
another one bites the dust. And another one, and another one ...
2
Donald Trump
Harvey Weinstein
Charlie Rose
Matt Lauer
Maybe Trump WAS right!
2
Missed Roger Ailes, Bill O’Reilly, and Roy Moore, did you?
1
nothing surprises me anymore.
I just wonder why our CIC has not been fired yet
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