Matt Lauer may be a member of the media, but that doesn’t mean he’s a fan of the media. Asked in the latest issue of Esquire about Ann Curry’s firing and the blame for it being placed at his feet, the embattled Today anchor could not hide his disdain for how the event was covered. “The way the media treated what happened with Ann Curry was a disappointing learning experience,” he says. “I was disappointed by the laziness of the media, the willingness to read a rumor, repeat that rumor, and treat it as a fact.” Those rumors, of course, have not quieted for Lauer. Source claim he recently refused a pay cut , forcing NBC to fire a number of Today staffers. He’s also been accused of being demeaning and dismissive of those below him. “What were my options?” Lauer asks of the Curry situation. “Does anyone want to see a person who’s making the money that the newspapers say I’m making complaining, “Woe is me, my life is terrible, and people are being unfair”? “No one would’ve had any patience for that. I wouldn’t have any patience for that. So you just shut up and go about doing your job and hope that people who know you well – your friends and your family – know what’s true.” Many still believe that Lauer pushed for Curry’s ousting. He’s admitted in the months since that the ordeal was not handled well and he hopes viewers give the program a chance to rebound. So far, so not good, though. Today has fallen behind Good Morning America in the ratings and Lauer’s seat behind the main desk may soon go from hot to scorching.
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Matt Lauer Blames Lazy Media for Ann Curry Controversy, Debacle
