Matt Lauer, the disgraced former NBC anchor who was fired from the “Today” show four years ago after facing sexual misconduct allegations, feels that people "railroaded" him, a source tells People.
In the wake of the #MeToo movement that toppled other popular figures such as Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby, Lauer was fired from the network on Nov. 29, 2017, and has since struggled to stay connected, losing a lot of his friends and his former lavish lifestyle.
“He only wants to talk to people who are gonna take his side," the source told People. "He still feels like he got railroaded."
Added a source, "He just stays to himself, he doesn't really reach out to people very much anymore or engage them and so he's been losing touch with a lot of people."
More recently, former "Today" star Katie Couric criticized Lauer, now 63, in her new memoir "Going There." In an interview with Savannah Guthrie, she slammed the behavior of her former co-anchor as "abusive" and "disgusting." Couric also said that it was really hard for her when the allegations came to light in 2017, but that she and Lauer no longer have a relationship. She initially defended him.
The publishing of Ronan Farrow’s book “Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators” in 2019 revealed more details of Lauer’s alleged behavior, which included a 2014 rape, an allegation made by his co-worker Brooke Nevils. In a letter responding to the allegations, Lauer called the interaction "consensual."
Lauer wrote to Variety in 2019, "For two years, the women with whom I had extramarital relationships have abandoned shared responsibility, and instead, shielded themselves from blame behind false allegations...They have done enormous damage in the process. And I will no longer provide them the shelter of my silence.”
