Matt Lauer Will Never Work Again, See His Life Today After Scandal

Intro There was a side of Matt I never knew. I tried to understand why he was so wreckless and calloused and honestly abusive to other women Matt Lauer was once one of the most influential and well-known figures in television news, co-anchoring the Today Show on NBC for over 20 years. But in November 2017, shocking allegations of sexual misconduct led to Lauer being abruptly fired by NBC. The revelations not only cost him his high-profile job, but have seemingly made Lauer completely unhireable, casting an ominous dark shadow over his now tarnished legacy. In this video, we'll take a closer look at the disturbing accusations against Lauer, how the scandal unfolded, and what his life looks like today. The fall from grace has been steep for the disgraced former anchor, who has since become The Rise and Fall of Matt Lauer a pariah in the media world. Join us as we examine whether Lauer will ever be able to make a comeback, or if the damage to his reputation is simply too great to overcome. The Rise and Fall of Matt Lauer Clip: Go ahead play it back. This is today with Katie Ceuric and Matt Lauer….Matt Lauer. That’s your version. That’s the version I play at home That clip you just watched was from Matt Lauer's very first day co-anchoring the Today Show on January 6, 1997. For over 20 years, Matt Lauer was a mainstay of morning television as the co-anchor of NBC's Today show. He started at the network in 1992 as a fill-in newsreader before being named co-anchor in 1997 alongside Katie Couric. Over the following two decades, Lauer became one of the most powerful and well-known figures in TV news. But in November 2017, at the height of the #MeToo movement, Lauer was abruptly fired by NBC after a colleague filed a detailed complaint accusing him of inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace. The revelation came as a shock and quickly led to a stunning downfall for the once-beloved anchor. According to reports at the time, NBC News chairman Andrew Lack said in a staff memo that while it was the first complaint about Lauer in his 20+ years at the network, there was "reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident." Soon after, multiple other women came forward with disturbing accounts of misconduct by Lauer. A source told PEOPLE the complaint that led to Lauer's firing involved inappropriate sexual behavior that began during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and continued afterward. Another source said Lauer had viewed the relationship with the woman as "consensual" and was "dumbfounded" by the accusation, claiming he was being falsely portrayed. More Allegations Emerge More Allegations Emerge Clip: It represented after serious review….We have decided to terminate his employment. While it’s the first complaint...we have reason to believe it wasn’t an isolated incident. In the days following Lauer's termination, more women spoke out with allegations against him. Variety published a report with accounts from three women who said Lauer harassed them. One claimed he once gave a colleague a sex toy with an explicit note, and another alleged he exposed himself and reprimanded her for not engaging in a sex act. The most serious allegation came from a former NBC employee who told The New York Times that Lauer sexually assaulted her in 2001. She alleged that Lauer summoned her to his office, locked the door, and had sex with her until she passed out. Lauer said he had a consensual "extramarital affair" with the woman. Then in 2019, disturbing new details emerged when journalist Ronan Farrow published his book Catch and Kill. In it, former NBC News employee Brooke Nevils alleged that Lauer anally raped her in his hotel room at the Sochi Olympics in 2014. Nevils said she had six shots of vodka and was too drunk to consent, and that she declined Lauer's advances multiple times. Lauer denied the rape allegation in a lengthy letter, claiming he had a consensual "extramarital, but consensual, sexual encounter" with Nevils that night and saying her story was "filled with false details intended only to create the impression this was an abusive encounter." But the damage to Lauer's reputation was done. In the span of days, he went from being one of the biggest stars on television to a pariah facing disturbing accusations of being an abuser who preyed on female colleagues for years. Lauer's Downfall Hits Home Lauer's Downfall Hits Home Abridged quote to guide the editing: There are no words to express my sorrow….As I am writing this….Some of what has been said….Repairing the damage….It is now my full time job. In addition to losing his high-profile job, Lauer's personal life also imploded in the wake of the scandal. His wife of nearly 20 years, former model Annette Roque, filed for divorce in 2019 after the couple had informally separated in the aftermath of the allegations. Lauer and Roque share three children together - sons Jack and Thijs, and daughter Romy. Their divorce was finalized quietly later in 2019. While an insider told PEOPLE that Lauer was "focused on his children" throughout the process, his public disgrace clearly took a major toll at home. According to reports, Lauer also lost many close friends as a result of the scandal. His former Today colleagues were said to distance themselves, though anchor Bryant Gumbel has reportedly maintained a friendship. In 2019, fellow Today star Al Roker said of Lauer: "I don't really talk about him that much, but we wish him well." Katie Couric, Lauer's longtime co-anchor, was also deeply disturbed by the revelations. She said she had "no idea" about the misconduct allegations and was grappling with the fact that Lauer turned out to be "two different people." Couric admitted doing her own investigating into Lauer's behavior, calling what she learned "devastating" and "disgusting." Lauer Keeps a Low Profile Lauer Keeps a Low Profile In the years since his sudden firing and the shocking allegations, Lauer has become somewhat of a ghost. Once a fixture on television screens across America every morning, he is now rarely seen out in public. Lauer has spent most of his time out of the spotlight at his Long Island estate. In 2019, he finalized the sale of his Manhattan apartment where he lived during the week while working in the city. He also put his Hamptons mansion on the market before later deciding to keep the sprawling property known as Strongheart Manor. While largely staying out of sight, Lauer has occasionally been spotted in public in the Hamptons or while traveling. But for the most part, he has embraced a "very quiet lifestyle" in the wake of the scandal that is "nothing at all like what it was" during his Today show heyday, according to a source. Lauer began dating PR executive Shamin Abas several months after finalizing his divorce in 2019. Described as a "serious" relationship, the couple have mostly avoided the spotlight, with a source telling PEOPLE they "kept it very private" early on. Lauer and Abas continue to spend time together, but she maintains her own busy life and career apart from the disgraced anchor. Despite retreating from the public eye, Lauer still faces scrutiny when he does step out. In late 2022, he generated headlines when he was spotted with Abas strolling in the Hamptons, as well as when he briefly reunited with some former Today colleagues at Al Roker's holiday party. "He doesn't want to give people any added options to trash talk him, but he's still thin-skinned," a source told Us Weekly in April 2024. Plotting a Comeback? "He's very upset with how he was portrayed...it's very painful for him to go out in public." Plotting a Comeback? Now, over 6 years after the scandal that ended his career, Lauer is said to be strategizing a return to the media world. According to an Us Weekly report in April 2024, sources say Lauer has started "testing the waters" and is "planning his next act." "He's started to talk to people," an insider told the outlet. "He wants to get back into the media. He wants to be relevant again." The source said Lauer feels that "enough time has gone by" since the allegations surfaced and that he should be allowed an opportunity to make a professional comeback of some sort. However, he apparently still feels victimized by his downfall. "He's still very upset with how he was portrayed, and still feels like he was the victim," the insider explained. "Don't expect an apology, he's the one who feels is owed an apology." If Lauer does attempt a career revival, he apparently wants to convey an image of stability in his personal life with Abas by his side. "He wants to show that he's in a stable relationship," the source said. "He's not a playboy. He has a stable life." Whether media outlets or the public would be receptive to a Matt Lauer return engagement remains to be seen. His precipitous fall from grace was stunning, and the accusations against him disturbing. While some celebrity bad boys are able to find redemption, Lauer's particular transgressions involving alleged sexual misconduct and abuse of power may prove difficult to overcome. For her part, Lauer accuser Brooke Nevils has expressed a desire to move forward from the painful ordeal. After her identity was revealed and her allegation detailed in Catch and Kill, Nevils issued a statement saying: "I want to thank the many survivors who shared their stories with me today and offered their support. It takes courage, and I am truly grateful." Outro As for Lauer, he has remained defiant in the face of the allegations while also largely staying silent and out of the public discourse in recent years. If he does indeed attempt a comeback, it will be a major test of the culture's willingness to forgive, or at least tolerate, a once-powerful man accused of serious wrongdoing. Given the severity of what Lauer is alleged to have done, he would face a major uphill battle to achieve any sort of meaningful career rehabilitation. The details of the accusations, including the rape allegation by Nevils, paint a disturbing portrait of an abuser, not merely someone who had a consensual affair. Still, Lauer appears intent on writing a new chapter and not fading away into obscurity. Whether he can orchestrate a professional rebirth or is destined to remain a pariah remains one of the media world's intriguing questions. For now, though, Matt Lauer's stunning story serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of sexual misconduct and the long, inescapable shadow it casts. Now it's time to hear from you. The rise and fall of Matt Lauer is a story that has captured the public’s attention for years, and his potential comeback attempts are sure to generate even more discussion. It's clear that Lauer still feels wronged by how he was portrayed in the media, but the question remains: does he deserve a second chance? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section down below. Do you think Matt Lauer should be given another opportunity in the media world, or should he remain in the shadows? And what would it take for you to consider giving him a second chance, if anything?