NBC “Today” show co-host Matt Lauer will not be returning to TV despite previous claims, according to a new report.
Lauer, who was fired in November 2017 amid allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace, has been laying low at his house in Hamptons and has no plans of returning to TV, a source told Page 6.
While Lauer is in the middle of his multimillion-dollar divorce from his second wife, Annette Roque, he’s spending time with his three children.
“There is no way that he’s thinking about returning to work at all. How could he? He knows there’s no TV role for him now. And to be honest, it’s the furthest thing from his mind,” the source told Page 6.
However, last summer, Lauer was overheard telling fans, “Don’t worry, I’ll be back on TV,” according to Page 6.
At the time, he wanted to quickly settle the divorce with his wife of 19 years, Roque, as he was “ready to move on with his life and truly believes that a television comeback is possible,” a source told Us Weekly.
But as the divorce settlement dragged on, with the pair still not signing a deal, Lauer has had to change his initial stance.
“It has been hard for him,” a source told People magazine. “He went from being a super busy person to having nothing but time on his hands. He is not doing well.”
The source added that Lauer “is not thinking about working again right now.”
“He’s trying to get by putting all his energy into his kids,” a second source told People. “He doesn’t sit around thinking about a comeback.”
The estranged couple was still living together at the Hamptons with their sons Jack, 17, Thijs, 11, and daughter Romy, 14, as they continued working out the terms of their divorce.
Sexual Allegations and Getting Fired
In May, NBC released a report about Lauer’s firing. The internal investigation was led by NBC Universal general counsel, Kim Harris, and focused on four complaints of sexual misconduct allegations. Additionally, nearly 70 interviews with current and former employees and more than 30 focus groups with 262 current employees were conducted, reported People.
On Nov. 29, 2017, NBC’s Savannah Guthrie announced Lauer’s firing to the world, quoting an email from NBC News Chairman Andy Lack, reported USA Today.
“On Monday night, we received a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace by Matt Lauer. It represented, after serious review, a clear violation of our company’s standards. As a result, we’ve decided to terminate his employment. While it is the first complaint about his behavior in the over 20 years he’s been at NBC News, we were also presented with reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident.”
Matt Lauer has been terminated from NBC News. On Monday night, we received a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace by Matt Lauer. As a result, we’ve decided to terminate his employment. pic.twitter.com/1A3UAZpvPb
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) November 29, 2017
Later, Lauer made a statement to People admitting to, and apologizing for, seeing NBC colleagues romantically during his tenure at the network.
“Five months ago I was terminated by NBC after admitting to past relationships with co-workers,” Lauer said. “A day later I took responsibility, apologized to the people I had hurt and promise to begin the process of repairing the damage I had caused my family. I have worked every day since that then to honor the promise.”
“I fully acknowledge that I acted inappropriately as a husband, father and principal at NBC. However, I want to make it perfectly clear that any allegations or reports of coercive, aggressive or abusive actions on my part, at any time, are absolutely false,” he concluded.