Two years ago,Matt Lauer‘s world was turned upside down.
On Nov. 29, 2017, NBC announced that the starTodayshow anchor had beenfireddue to a complaint of “inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace.”
Details of the complaint weren’t made public until Oct. 8 this year, whenVarietypublished an excerpt fromRonan Farrow‘s book,Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators, in which former NBC News employeeBrooke Nevilsalleged that Laueranally raped her in his hotel roomat the Sochi Olympics. Nevils says she told Farrow she was “too drunk to consent” and also stated multiple times that she did not want to have anal intercourse.
Nevils said in the book that she had more sexual encounters with Lauer back in New York City, telling Farrow: “It was completely transactional. It was not a relationship.”
Lauer, who recentlyfinalized his divorcefrom longtime wifeAnnette Roque,penned a lengthy letter in response, claiming the encounter was “extramarital, but consensual.” He said the encounter in Sochi was the beginning of his affair with Nevils and “the first of many sexual encounters between us over the next several months.”
Annie Watt Agency; Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Lauer has maintained an extremely low profile in the Hamptons since his firing, and a source told PEOPLE this fall that he continues to “lay very low.”
“He went from being the biggest deal and being able to do whatever he wanted to being an outcast and it’s been a bitter pill to swallow,” the source continued.
According to the source, Lauer’s circle has only gotten smaller since Nevils went public with her rape allegation.
A separate insider says Lauer “still maintains several friendships, including with people at NBC.”
“He’s really close with his kids as well,” says the friend.
PEOPLE is out to Lauer’s attorney for comment.
Matt Agudo/SplashNews.com
Nevils, meanwhile, has slammed Lauer’s open letter, calling it a“case study in victim shaming.”
In a statement read on-air on theTodayshow after Nevils’ rape accusation was first publicly reported earlier this month, NBC News said, “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.”
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 toonline.rainn.org.
source: people.com
