Savannah Guthrie and Matt Lauer became close throughout their five years as co-hosts of “Today.” But in November 2017, everything changed when the network fired Lauer for engaging in “inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace.”
The two weren’t afraid to stress their cordial working relationship before the barrage of shocking accusations that led to Lauer’s notorious termination.
The two appeared friendly when they got back together at a mutual friend’s wedding in December 2023, despite their ups and downs. We’ll be looking back at the complex connection that Lauer and Guthrie had over the years.
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Savannah Guthrie and Matt Lauer’s Friendship
On air, the two were frequently amiable and cheerful. Between updating viewers on the newest news stories, the two would frequently engage in frank conversations on camera.
“I believe Savannah is one of the most well-rounded individuals/personalities on the show,” Lauer exclaimed after Guthrie’s five years on the squad in a July 2017 “Today” piece. The two children of Guthrie, Vale, and Charley, were born, and the since-disgraced anchor was present to celebrate.
“This is Vale Guthrie Feldman! Mike Feldman and Savannah have a lovely (and intelligent!) young child. 2014 saw Lauer post a tweet following Guthrie’s daughter’s birth. “So much happiness and enthusiasm. We already adore her,” he continued.
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What Led To Lauer’s Dismissal
In 2017, the veteran anchor was let go due to claims of sexual assault. Overnight, Lauer (who at the time was the highest-paid personality in television news) vanished off the small screen.
On November 29, 2017, while Guthrie and fellow “Today” star Hoda Kotb were already in their cars on their way to work, word of his dismissal reached them. Guthrie broke down in tears as she delivered the news to the audience on broadcast.
“My heart hurts for Matt. She spoke highly of Lauer, who oversaw the NBC morning show for 20 years, saying, “He is my dear, dear friend and my partner, and he has been loved by many people here.”
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How Savannah Guthrie and Matt Lauer’s Friendship Turned After the Sad Event
Guthrie claimed that she made an effort to communicate with the now-disgraced anchor. Although Guthrie had not seen Lauer since his dismissal, she had attempted to communicate with him via text, which she disclosed in September 2018.
“I haven’t seen him yet… I make it a point to stay in contact via text,” she said at the time to People. “As far as I can tell, he seems to be genuinely focused on his family and children.”
Guthrie firmly sided with victims of sexual assault when Lauer was accused of rape by an NBC staff member. When new, explicit facts of Lauer’s alleged behavior surfaced in 2019, Guthrie and Kotb gravely addressed the subject.
In my opinion, we ought to take time to appreciate our audience. Guthrie said, partially live, “This is shocking and appalling.
“I know that coming forward wasn’t easy for our colleague Brooke Nevils back then, and it still isn’t easy today. And we stand behind her and any other woman who makes an allegation. Simply put, it hurts everyone at NBC and the “Today” show a lot.
In Ronan Farrow’s book “Catch and Kill,” former NBC producer Brooke Nevils stated that she was anally raped by Lauer in a Sochi hotel room while the network was covering the 2014 Olympics.
While Nevils was a junior staff member, Lauer stated that he had an “extramarital, but consensual, sexual encounter” with him.
“I believe I can speak for everyone here, we’re deeply disturbed,” Guthrie continued. Additionally, we pledge to keep you updated, and we will continue doing so.
Lauer responded to a shocking book by making fun of his former colleagues. The disgraced journalist seemed to be mocking Kotb and Guthrie for “rushing to judge” him after he was charged with rape.
Lauer attacked Farrow for “flawed reporting and factual errors” in his response to her book. “I was shocked, but not surprised, that not many in the media were prepared to fully refute the charges against me or the individual voicing them,” he continued.
Lauer was removed from Guthrie’s historic event. As the network honored Guthrie for her ten years of service, it did not mention Lauer.
During Guthrie’s tenth anniversary as anchor of “Today,” her former co-host was conspicuously absent from a memorial program honoring her. Co-stars Kotb and Roker were included in the “Savannah-versary,” while Lauer was cut from the montage.
