Matt Lauer's Legal Troubles: What's The Verdict?

Matt Lauer, the former co-host of NBC's Today show, was fired in 2017 following allegations of sexual misconduct. Lauer was accused of rape and inappropriate sexual behaviour by multiple women, including a detailed complaint from an NBC colleague. While Lauer has denied many of the accusations, he has admitted to extramarital affairs and apologised for causing pain and embarrassment. So, what legal repercussions could Lauer face, and did he break the law?

Matt Lauer's termination from NBC

On November 29, 2017, NBC News announced that Lauer's employment had been terminated after an unidentified female NBC employee reported that Lauer had sexually harassed her during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and that the harassment continued after they returned to New York.

Andrew Lack, chairman of NBC News, sent a memorandum to his staff, stating that they had received a "detailed complaint from a colleague" about Lauer's inappropriate sexual behaviour and that they had "reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident." Lauer's last day on air was November 28, 2017, and his contract was scheduled to run through the end of 2018.

Lauer's termination from NBC was met with shock and dismay by his colleagues and the public. Lauer himself expressed sorrow and regret for his actions, apologising for the pain he had caused. He acknowledged that there was "enough truth in these stories to make me feel embarrassed and ashamed."

In the days following his firing, more allegations against Lauer surfaced, including accusations of sexual assault and creating an abusive work environment. Lauer denied many of the accusations, but admitted to extramarital affairs, insisting they were consensual.

Lauer's termination from NBC had far-reaching consequences, including the loss of friendships and a change in his lavish lifestyle. He also faced public scrutiny and criticism, with some questioning whether he had broken the law. Lauer's actions and their legal implications are still a subject of debate and discussion.

Rape allegations

Matt Lauer, the former co-host of NBC's Today show, was accused of rape and sexual misconduct in November 2017. The accusations were made by a female colleague, Brooke Nevils, who alleged that Lauer had raped her while they were both covering the 2014 Sochi Olympics. In response, NBC News fired Lauer within 24 hours of receiving the complaint.

According to Nevils' account, published in Ronan Farrow's book, Catch and Kill, she and former Today co-anchor Meredith Vieira were having drinks at a hotel bar when they met Lauer, who joined them. Nevils ended up going to Lauer's hotel room twice—once to retrieve her press credential, which Lauer had taken as a joke, and the second time because he invited her back.

Nevils alleged that Lauer pushed her against the door, kissed her, and forced her onto the bed, asking if she liked anal sex. She said that she "declined several times" and told him that she didn't want to have anal sex. However, Lauer allegedly proceeded with the act, and Nevils claimed that it was painful and that she "bled for days".

Lauer denied the allegations, characterising his relationship with Nevils as "completely consensual". In a statement, he admitted to having an "extramarital, but consensual, sexual encounter" with Nevils and denied that it was non-consensual or aggressive in any way. He also claimed that their encounter was the beginning of a lengthy affair, with multiple sexual encounters over several months, all of which he believed to be mutual and consensual.

In addition to Nevils' accusation, Lauer faced further complaints of sexual misconduct, with more victims coming forward and reporting multiple accounts of inappropriate behaviour. These included allegations of sexual harassment, such as exposing himself to a female colleague and giving a sex toy as a present to another. There was also an allegation of sexual assault from a former NBC employee, who claimed that Lauer summoned her to his office, locked the door, and forced himself on her.

While Lauer denied many of the accusations, he did admit to extramarital affairs and apologised for his actions, expressing sorrow and regret for the pain he had caused. He acknowledged that his behaviour was embarrassing and ashamed and committed to repairing the damage he had done.

Sexual misconduct claims

Matt Lauer, the former co-host of NBC's Today show, was fired in 2017 following sexual misconduct allegations. Lauer's termination came after an unidentified female NBC employee reported that he had sexually harassed her during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The woman, later identified as Brooke Nevils, alleged that Lauer anally raped her in his hotel room. She claimed that she was too drunk to consent and had declined anal intercourse multiple times.

In addition to Nevils' accusation, several other women came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct by Lauer. A former NBC employee alleged that Lauer summoned her to his office in 2001, locked the door, and forced her to engage in intercourse. Two more complaints related to Lauer were also made to NBC on the day of his firing. One of these complaints accused him of sexual assault, while the other details are unknown. Furthermore, three anonymous women accused Lauer of sexual harassment, including exposing himself and giving a colleague a sex toy with an explicit note.

Lauer denied any wrongdoing, characterizing his encounter with Nevils as "extramarital" and "consensual." He admitted to having extramarital affairs but insisted they were consensual. In a statement, Lauer expressed sorrow and regret for the pain he had caused, acknowledging that there was "enough truth in these stories to make [him] feel embarrassed and ashamed."

The revelations about Lauer's conduct led to a wave of backlash and the loss of many friendships and professional relationships. His celebrity friends and former colleagues, such as Al Roker and Katie Couric, cut ties with him. Lauer's wife, Annette Roque, filed for divorce, citing "mental abuse" and "extreme mental and emotional distress."

Lauer's celebrity friends cutting ties

Matt Lauer's fall from grace saw him lose many friends, but some have stood by him.

Lauer was fired from NBC in November 2017 after a female colleague accused him of sexual misconduct. This was the first complaint against him in over 20 years at the network, but there was reason to believe it was not an isolated incident.

Lauer's former co-host, Katie Couric, has since cut all ties with him. In an interview with Savannah Guthrie, she said:

> "I think what I realized is that there was a side of Matt I never really knew...As I got more information and learned what was going on behind the scenes. And then I did some of my own reporting, talked to people, tried to excavate what had been going on. It was really devastating and also disgusting."

Couric also shared private text messages between her and Lauer in her memoir, *Going There*, which was released in 2021. A source told *People* that Lauer was "really upset" by the book and that it made him "lose trust".

Another former co-host, Savannah Guthrie, has also ended her friendship with Lauer, according to *US Weekly*.

However, Lauer's relationship with former co-star Al Roker is reportedly still friendly. In 2019, Roker said:

> "I'm sure he's doing well. I don't really talk about that much but we wish him well."

Several outlets have reported that Lauer reached out to Roker following his cancer diagnosis in 2020, and their 30-year friendship has been quietly reignited. A source told *RadarOnline* that Roker has remained a "loyal friend" to Lauer, even as others in the industry have cut ties with him.

Another former colleague, Bryant Gumbel, has also maintained his friendship with Lauer. In June 2024, Gumbel said they talk "almost" every day. "He's doing great," Gumbel added. "He's doing fine...He's a good man."

Lauer has also been reconnecting with other friends. A source told *People* in November 2024 that Lauer was "in a really good place" and "happy".

Lauer's divorce from Annette Roque

Matt Lauer and Annette Roque's divorce was finalised in September 2019, nearly two years after Lauer was fired from The Today Show for alleged sexual misconduct. The couple wed in October 1998 after meeting on a blind date. They have three children together.

Roque officially filed for divorce in July 2019 in Suffolk County, New York. The divorce was finalised in September 2019, with Roque's attorney, John Teitler, telling People, "The matter has been settled."

In 2006, while pregnant, Roque filed for divorce due to "mental abuse, extreme mental and emotional distress, humiliation, torment, and anxiety" by Lauer. They reconciled weeks later.

Following Lauer's firing from The Today Show, a source told People that Lauer and Roque went through a challenging time as they grappled with the news and what it meant for their relationship. "They were working through their issues at first — they were never hopeful of working it out," the source said. "But it took her a long time to work through it."

In April 2018, a source revealed that the couple was "preparing for divorce." The source said, "He is truly devastated and wants to make up for anything he has done to hurt people. But the damage in his marriage can't be fixed, and each would be better off to move on. They know this, but the kids are important to both of them."

In August 2018, it was reported that Lauer could pay Roque up to $20 million in the settlement and that they agreed to share custody of their children. A source told People that "the divorce is still not final but Annette will get a lot of money. He took a financial hit with all this... Annette's going to get a lot of money. Everybody's pretty sure he's going to have to give her the horse farm. That's her love."

In June 2019, it was confirmed that Lauer planned to sell the family's $44 million Hamptons home. The house, a 12-bedroom, 12-bath property known as Strongheart Manor, was purchased from actor Richard Gere for $36.5 million.

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