By Stefanie Sciolaro
NEW YORK, NY– Former Today Show Anchor Matt Lauer who was accused of sexual misconduct has released a statement apologizing for his actions. A female NBC staffer anonymously filed a complaint against Lauer on Monday.
The complaint contained evidence in the form of messages and photos he allegedly sent to the women during the 2014 Sochi Olympics. This evidence led to the immediate termination of Lauer from “Today”.
Lauer released a statement about the allegations on Thursday, November 30. Lauer’s longtime co-anchor Savannah Guthrie read his statement on air during the Today show.
“There are no words to express my sorrow and regret for the pain I have caused others by words and actions. To the people I have hurt, I am truly sorry… Some of what is being said about me is untrue or mischaracterized, but there is enough truth in these stories to make me feel embarrassed and ashamed,” Lauer wrote.
According to The New York Times, two other women have come forward with allegations against the anchor following the first accusation. One women said Lauer sexually assaulted her in 2001 within his office.
Guthrie and co-host Hoda Kotb said they were both “heartbroken” over the incident. Kotb is currently filling Lauer’s position on the show.
Prior to being fired, Lauer was a dominant figure on “Today” for over 20 years and had been ranked as one of the highest-paid anchors in television.
Contributions from NBC News Erik Ortiz