by Pa Rock
Citizen Journalist
Matt Lauer, the longtime host of The Today Show, has been fired by NBC following an allegation of sexual harassment of a female. What's perhaps the most notable aspect of Lauer's dismissal is how quickly it happened. The allegation was not given time to percolate in public for a few days while NBC and Lauer stumbled around trying to come up with a rationale to save the individual whom one NBC commentator just referred to as "the most powerful newsman at NBC." The story was that Lauer had been accused - and he had been fired. Fiat accompli.
The news networks are in a particularly tough spot with regard to sexual abuse allegations. With the visceral image of Donald Trump hanging over them like a vulture at feeding time and wearing a ball cap proclaiming "Fake News," they have no room for any moves that could possibly be interpreted as being soft on harassers - not after shining the bright light of public scrutiny on odious visages like Roy Moore and Donald Trump himself. There is zero room for appearing to harbor a double standard.
The timing of this allegation and response is particularly egregious in that Trump has recently chosen to challenge the infamous "pussy-grabbing" Access Hollywood tape that is a property of NBC. Trump, who basically ignored the tape for over a year and dismissed it as "locker room talk," is now alleging that it is a phony - and he never uttered that statement. Lying apparently comes as easily to Trump as breathing.
A friend and I attended The Today Show on a bitterly cold morning back in January of 2009. Al Roker wasn't working that morning because he was on an out-of-town assignment (and, in fact, we had seen him leaving at the airport on the day we arrived), but the rest of the gang was there and on duty. Meredith Vieira and Ann Curry came outside, into the cold, every time there was a break - and smoozed with the crazy tourists who were braving the cold. Matt Lauer rushed out one time, bundled to the teeth, didn't speak to anyone, and quickly rushed back into the building at 30 Rock. He came off as a bit of a prima dona.
Four years later Lauer, who had a history of not getting along with Ann Curry, had her "promoted" off of the show, ripping a hole in the once "happy family" image of the show.
Somewhere today Ann is probably doing back-flips!
If Matt Lauer is innocent, may he have his day in court and achieve his vindication. If he is guilty, may he man-up, own his actions, and work to make the world a safer and better place for those who have suffered in silence for far too long.
The moment continues.
Citizen Journalist
Matt Lauer, the longtime host of The Today Show, has been fired by NBC following an allegation of sexual harassment of a female. What's perhaps the most notable aspect of Lauer's dismissal is how quickly it happened. The allegation was not given time to percolate in public for a few days while NBC and Lauer stumbled around trying to come up with a rationale to save the individual whom one NBC commentator just referred to as "the most powerful newsman at NBC." The story was that Lauer had been accused - and he had been fired. Fiat accompli.
The news networks are in a particularly tough spot with regard to sexual abuse allegations. With the visceral image of Donald Trump hanging over them like a vulture at feeding time and wearing a ball cap proclaiming "Fake News," they have no room for any moves that could possibly be interpreted as being soft on harassers - not after shining the bright light of public scrutiny on odious visages like Roy Moore and Donald Trump himself. There is zero room for appearing to harbor a double standard.
The timing of this allegation and response is particularly egregious in that Trump has recently chosen to challenge the infamous "pussy-grabbing" Access Hollywood tape that is a property of NBC. Trump, who basically ignored the tape for over a year and dismissed it as "locker room talk," is now alleging that it is a phony - and he never uttered that statement. Lying apparently comes as easily to Trump as breathing.
A friend and I attended The Today Show on a bitterly cold morning back in January of 2009. Al Roker wasn't working that morning because he was on an out-of-town assignment (and, in fact, we had seen him leaving at the airport on the day we arrived), but the rest of the gang was there and on duty. Meredith Vieira and Ann Curry came outside, into the cold, every time there was a break - and smoozed with the crazy tourists who were braving the cold. Matt Lauer rushed out one time, bundled to the teeth, didn't speak to anyone, and quickly rushed back into the building at 30 Rock. He came off as a bit of a prima dona.
Four years later Lauer, who had a history of not getting along with Ann Curry, had her "promoted" off of the show, ripping a hole in the once "happy family" image of the show.
Somewhere today Ann is probably doing back-flips!
If Matt Lauer is innocent, may he have his day in court and achieve his vindication. If he is guilty, may he man-up, own his actions, and work to make the world a safer and better place for those who have suffered in silence for far too long.
The moment continues.
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