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Tag: Lauer
Don Lemon Defends Matt Lauer, Claims ‘Public Loves Him’ After ‘Today’ Firing
Don Lemon thinks Matt Lauer could make a big comeback.
The former CNN anchor, 58, opened up about his relationship with the controversial journalist, 67, and why he believed the public would welcome Lauer with open arms if he were to return to television on the latest episode of the Hollywood Raw podcast.
In November 2017, NBC fired Lauer from Today after a former employee, who was later identified as Brooke Nevils, claimed he sexually harassed her. Shortly after, several women also came forward with similar accusations.
Matt Lauer.
Michael Ostuni/Patrick McMullan via Getty
Two years later, Nevils went public with her story in Ronan Farrow’s 2019 book Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators, and alleged that Lauer raped her in his hotel room at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Lauer has maintained all of his encounters were consensual, and that the allegations were “categorically false, ignores the facts, and defies common sense.”
On the podcast, Lemon said Lauer could return to media and “set his own course” on a digital platform and added that viewers were ready to see the journalist back on their screens.
“I only got to know Matt after, you know, the whole situation happened and because we live in the same town and we have mutual friends,” Lemon explained. “Whenever I see Matt out and about, or, you know, even with us, if we go out to dinner, my husband and I will go out to dinner with him and his fiancé. And people love him.”
Matt Lauer on ‘Today’.
Peter Kramer/NBC/NBC NewsWire/Getty
“Women love him. They’re like, ‘Matt, oh my God, can I get a picture? I love you. I miss you on television,’” he added. “And so I think the public loves him.”
Lemon claimed that the “public misses him” but the “people inside the business” might be “afraid” of the backlash they may face if they were to hire him back.
“Maybe in this whole Trump era when, you know, [being] canceled is over, I don’t know.” he continued. “Maybe there is a way that he’ll come back. But I think it’s more of the people who are inside of the business who are concerned about what happened with Matt.”
Though the two connected after his firing, Lemon and Lauer have been public about their friendship. In April 2024, Lauer and his girlfriend Shamin Abas attended Lemon and his longtime partner Tim Malone‘s wedding in New York City.
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In November 2024, a friend of Lauer’s told PEOPLE that the journalist had reconnected with his old friends and found himself in “a really good place” with his kids Jack, 23, Romy, 21, and Thijs, 17, and his ex-wife Annette Roque since choosing to live a “quiet” life in the Hamptons.
“He’s actually doing well and happy,” the friend said. “He doesn’t work and he doesn’t have to. He’s not looking to. He was a journalist at heart and he did some impactful political interviews that spanned his career, but the current cycle of politics isn’t anything even people who have been doing it for a long time are really excited to cover.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.
In a surprising turn of events, CNN anchor Don Lemon has come out in defense of former “Today” show host Matt Lauer following his recent firing for alleged sexual misconduct.Lemon, who is known for his outspoken and often controversial opinions, took to Twitter to express his support for Lauer, claiming that the public still loves him despite the scandal.
“Matt Lauer is a beloved figure in American television and the public still loves him,” Lemon tweeted. “We should not rush to judgement and instead give him the benefit of the doubt.”
Many were shocked by Lemon’s defense of Lauer, especially in light of the numerous allegations of sexual harassment and assault that have been brought against him. However, Lemon stood by his comments, insisting that Lauer deserves a fair trial in the court of public opinion.
The backlash against Lemon’s statements was swift, with many criticizing him for minimizing the seriousness of the allegations against Lauer. Some even called for Lemon to apologize and retract his statements.
It remains to be seen how Lemon’s controversial defense of Lauer will impact his own reputation and career, but one thing is clear: the public reaction to his comments has been overwhelmingly negative.
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Don Lemon believes disgraced NBC host Matt Lauer can make a comeback: ‘The public misses him’
Ex-CNN host Don Lemon thinks former “Today” host Matt Lauer can come back after his 2017 sexual assault allegation scandal.
“Whenever I see Matt out and about or even with if we go out to dinner – my husband and I go out to dinner with him and his fiancée – people love him,” Lemon said on the “Hollywood Raw” podcast Wednesday. “Women love him. They’re like, ‘Man – oh, my God – can I get a picture? I love you. I miss you on television. Blah blah blah.’”
He added, “I think the public loves him, the public misses him, but it’s just the – it’s the people inside the business who are afraid.”
“Todaywill ” host Matt Lauer was fired in 2017 after being accused of sexual assault. (Photo by: Peter Kramer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
DON LEMON SLAMS MORNING JOE FOR PREACHING ‘CIVILITY’ WITH TRUMP: ‘SMILE IN THEIR F—ING FACE’
In the clip flagged by The Daily Mail, Lemon suggested that if “canceling is over” thanks to the new “Trump era,” there could be a chance that Lauer will return to the news.
‘I’ll put it this way,” Lemon said. “I think the general public would accept Matt back, and I think people would watch him. And I think the ratings would be great.”
He also complimented Lauer, saying, “Let me say this – there are certain people who are meant to do what they are doing. Do you know what I mean? Who are just really, really good at it.”
“I think that if he could come back to digital, he can set his own course,” Lemon added.
Don Lemon claimed people “love” and miss Matt Lauer on TV. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images | Photo by Noam Galai/WireImage)
Lauer was fired from his job as “Today” host in 2017 amid the height of the #MeToo movement after an employee claimed he took part in “inappropriate sexual behavior” with her at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
Almost two years later, a book by Ronan Farrow contained graphic rape allegations by his accuser. Lauer denied the allegations and insisted the sexual acts were mutual.
“It is alleged that an extramarital, but consensual, sexual encounter I have previously admitted having, was in fact an assault. It is categorically false, ignores the facts, and defies common sense,” Lauer wrote.
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“I had an extramarital affair with [a colleague] in 2014. It began when she came to my hotel room very late one night in Sochi, Russia. We engaged in a variety of sexual acts… each act was mutual and completely consensual,” Lauer added.
Lemon himself was also accused of sexual assault in 2019. However, his accuser later retracted his story in 2022 after claiming he had misremembered the events of the night.
Don Lemon was fired from CNN in 2023 after a report claimed he took part in misogynistic behavior. (REUTERS/Andrew Kelly)
A bombshell Variety report in April 2023 also claimed that Lemon sent threatening text messages to a colleague and repeatedly exhibited misogynistic behavior at work. Though CNN defended him and claimed the report was “riddled with patently false anecdotes,” Lemon was fired later that same month.
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In a surprising turn of events, CNN anchor Don Lemon has expressed his belief that disgraced former NBC host Matt Lauer could potentially make a comeback in the media industry. Despite the numerous sexual misconduct allegations that led to Lauer’s firing in 2017, Lemon believes that the public may be ready to forgive and forget.During a recent interview, Lemon stated, “I think Matt Lauer is a talented broadcaster and journalist, and I believe that the public misses him. People make mistakes, and if he is willing to take responsibility for his actions and show genuine remorse, I think there is a chance for redemption.”
Lauer’s downfall was swift and dramatic, with many of his former colleagues and viewers expressing shock and disappointment at the allegations against him. However, Lemon’s comments suggest that there may be room for Lauer to stage a comeback, given the right circumstances.
It remains to be seen whether Lauer will attempt to reenter the media landscape, and if so, how the public will react. But with Don Lemon’s support, it seems that Lauer may have some allies in his corner as he considers his next steps.
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