Longtime ‘Today’ host Matt Lauer fired from NBC for ‘inappropriate sexual behavior’

“While it is the first complaint about his behavior in the over twenty years he’s been at NBC News, we were also presented with reason to believe this may NOT have been an isolated incident,” NBC News chief Andy Lack said Wednesday in a memo sent to employees shortly before the 7 a.m. broadcast.

Lauer’s firing was also reported Wednesday morning by “Today” show anchor Savannah Guthrie, who told viewers they were “devastated” by the news and promised to provide more details when they were available. ‘We will be covering this story as reporters, as journalists,” she said. – [….] – Politico

Also, Joe Scarborough reported this morning that he’s been informed that “giants within the tech sector” are among the next individuals who’ll be called out.

Breaking: “Matt Lauer Terminated From ‘Today’ Show”

Matt Lauer has been terminated from the “Today” show after a colleague reported sexual misconduct in the workplace, his former co-host Savannah Guthrie announced Wednesday as the show opened.

Guthrie said she learned about shortly before the show opened, and added that she was heartbroken for her “dear, dear friend” Lauer, as well as the woman whose allegations NBC News found credible.

Lauer was co-anchor of the show for nearly 21 years, since his debut in the role Jan. 6, 1997. […]

NBC News

Slippery slope: “an idea OR COURSE OF ACTION which {could} lead to something unacceptable, wrong, or disastrous.”

Note: I’m NOT suggesting at all that Franken or Conyers would have eventually committed serious acts of inappropriate sexual behavior towards women.

I’m simply mindful of this Truth. In many, if not most, cases of actual “sexual assault,” its beginning was “just” an inappropriate touch here and there. Then over time, it gradually progressed to a tragic end.

I remember this idiom – “If you give them an inch, they’ll take a yard.”

Tolerating (or ignoring) “minor” acts of sexual misconduct can often lead to eventually having to deal with more serious kinds of sexual offenses. As a society, WE MUST do better in nipping “sexual misconduct” in the butt whenever, and wherever, it rears its ugly little head…BEFORE the situation really gets out of control.

My good friend BD, please note, in my previous comment I didn’t place Franken or Conyers in the same category with Moore and Weinstein. I simply expressed that I find their actions to be inexcusable too. Franken taking that pic was bad enough. But shoving his tongue down her throat during a rehearsal..?! I actually consider that a lesser form of sexual assault. Not “rape”. But not just “misconduct” either. He has apologized for having behaved inappropriately, at least, towards that woman.

As per reports, Conyers did confirm that a (TAX-PAYER funded) settlement of $27,000. 00 was indeed paid to one of his former female staffers, 2 yrs ago, after she accused him of “sexual harassment.” Conyers denies any wrongdoing but he went along with the settlement “in exchange for a Confidentiality agreement” nonetheless.

H/T: CNN, NPR, MSNBC et al

All of that said. I actually AGREE with you and others who feel this whole issue is about to go WAAAY Overboard. Frankly, I do fear it could end up prompting a BACKLASH, if some proper perspective AND media restraints aren’t applied with a quickness. (SEE my comment about 24/7 cable news).