By Katherine Tinsley
10:51am PST, Jan 24, 2025
Matt Lauer left the Today show after he was accused of sexual misconduct, but Don Lemon thinks there's an opportunity for the disgraced journalist to revive his career.
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Lemon and Lauer, who are based in Long Island, N.Y., have became acquaintances after the latter's contract was terminated.
"I only got to know Matt after, you know, the whole situation happened, because we live in the same town and we have mutual friends," Lemon said on the "Hollywood Raw" podcast.
"Whenever I see Matt out and about — or you know, if we go out to dinner, my husband and I go out to dinner with him and his fiancée — and people love him," he added.
Lauer was accused of assault and harassment of female colleagues, but Lemon revealed that the embattled TV star still has fans.
"Women love him! They're like, 'Man, oh my God, can I get a picture? I love you. I miss you on television.' I think the public loves him," the CNN alum claimed. "The public misses him, but it's the people inside the business who are afraid."
"Women love him! They're like, 'Man, oh my God, can I get a picture? I love you. I miss you on television.' I think the public loves him," the CNN alum claimed. "The public misses him, but it's the people inside the business who are afraid."
Despite the severity of the accusations against Lauer, Lemon continues to be friendly with him.
"Women can feel the way that they feel, and I understand that but that's their business," Lemon stated.
"I know when I'm out with him, everybody loves Matt and everybody flocks to Matt, and everyone wants a picture and everyone says, 'I miss you, and we want to see you back on television,'" Lemon shared.
In 2017, Lauer's behind-the-scenes antics were revealed in a Variety report.
"Matt Lauer's conduct was appalling, horrific and reprehensible, as we said at the time. That's why he was fired within 24 hours of us first learning of the complaint. Our hearts break again for our colleague," NBC said in a statement at the time, as one ex-staffer claimed Lauer assaulted her while covering the 2014 Olympics.
"Matt Lauer's conduct was appalling, horrific and reprehensible, as we said at the time. That's why he was fired within 24 hours of us first learning of the complaint. Our hearts break again for our colleague," NBC said in a statement at the time, as one ex-staffer claimed Lauer assaulted her while covering the 2014 Olympics.
Ronan Farrow's 2019 book, Catch and Kill, gives an in-depth description of former NBC News employee Brooke Nevils' interaction with Lauer during the 2014 sporting event. However, Lauer denied abusing Nevils.
"In a new book, it is alleged that an extramarital, but consensual, sexual encounter I have previously admitted having, was in fact an assault," Lauer said in a letter released after Farrow's project hit shelves. "It is categorically false, ignores the facts, and defies common sense."
"There was absolutely nothing aggressive about that encounter," Lauer said.
"In a new book, it is alleged that an extramarital, but consensual, sexual encounter I have previously admitted having, was in fact an assault," Lauer said in a letter released after Farrow's project hit shelves. "It is categorically false, ignores the facts, and defies common sense."
"There was absolutely nothing aggressive about that encounter," Lauer said.