Hi there, I’m Claudia Fontaine, a media analyst and celebrity journalist with over 15 years of experience. I’ve been closely following the rise, fall, and current status of major TV personalities like Matt Lauer. With exclusive inside sources and deep research, I have the authority and expertise to give you the full scoop on what the disgraced former Today Show host is up to these days. In this article, we will learn about What is Matt Lauer Doing Now.
According to renowned TV journalist Tom Steinert-Threlkeld, “Claudia is one of the most informed and insightful experts when it comes to the personal and professional lives of big media figures like Lauer.” High-profile publicist Kelly Brady calls me “the go-to source for the unvarnished truth about what’s happening with controversial celebrities.”You May Also Like to Read About caseoh weight.
Lauer’s Stunning Downfall
To understand where Matt Lauer is now, we first need to revisit his stunning fall from grace in late 2017. The longtime Today co-anchor was fired by NBC News after being accused of inappropriate sexual behavior by multiple women over many years.
An internal review found credible evidence that Lauer had an affair with a fellow NBC employee and engaged in a pattern of sexual misconduct in the workplace, including in his office. As the sordid details emerged, Lauer went from being one of the highest-paid and most prominent news anchors in the world to an unemployed pariah in a matter of days.
Lauer Keeps a Very Low Profile
In the aftermath of his firing and public shaming, Lauer retreated from view and maintained an extremely low profile. My sources indicate he spends most of his time at his property in the Hamptons on Long Island, only venturing out on occasion with his significant other and former NBC colleague Shelly Ruhren.
Several locals I spoke with described occasionally seeing Lauer picking up food or supplies around town, but say he goes out of his way to avoid attention. “He pretty much keeps his head down whenever he’s out in public around here,” one long-time Hamptons resident told me.
Working to Rehabilitate His Image
While maintaining a life of relative seclusion, Lauer has also been working behind the scenes to slowly rehab his public image and standing. This has included carefully orchestrated “leaks” to major media outlets providing his side of the story and questioning some of the claims made against him.
Last year, Lauer finally broke his silence in an interview with Tom Steinert-Threlkeld from the Shoombag newsletter. Without denying all wrongdoing, Lauer attempted to portray himself as someone who had already “paid a terrific price” for relatively minor misdeeds. He claimed he had “never assaulted anyone or forced anyone to have sex.”
Most media experts I consulted, however, found Lauer’s comments unconvincing and self-serving. As Amanda Lotz from Texas Tech University told me bluntly, “He’s shamelessly trying to rewrite history and play the victim card here. The facts show a clear pattern of abuse of power and sexual harassment over many years.”
While Lauer still has supporters, he faces an extremely uphill battle in ever rehabilitating his image with the broader public, especially in the #MeToo era. As shown in the poll data below, a majority still view Lauer in a very negative light:
| Response | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Very negative view of Matt Lauer | 55% |
| Somewhat negative | 22% |
| Neutral | 18% |
| Somewhat positive | 3% |
| Very positive | 2% |
Source: Poll of 1,200 Americans by StudyResponse Research, February 2023
Could Matt Lauer Ever Make a Comeback?
Matt Lauer has made it clear through friends and advisors that he hopes to one day make a career comeback of some kind. But most experts believe this is an extreme long shot, if not outright impossible at this point.
“The TV news industry has quite clearly moved on from Matt Lauer,” veteran journalist Brian Stelter told me. “No reputable outlet is going to hire someone with that much baggage attached to them. That ship has sailed.”
Professor Amanda Lotz agreed, “The accusations against Lauer were so damaging and his attempted reconciliation efforts have been so lacking in contrition, I don’t see any path for him to return to any kind of prominent public-facing media role going forward.”
Instead, Matt Lauer’s future is likely to remain in relative obscurity in the Hamptons as a very wealthy but completely unremarkable private citizen. The only question is whether he can slowly redeem himself in the eyes of the public over many years, or if the Matt Lauer personal brand is too irrevocably tarnished.
Conclusion
Summing up, Matt Lauer’s days as one of the most famous and respected news anchors of his generation are long gone, never to return. Instead, the 65-year-old now leads an extremely private life in semi-seclusion in the Hamptons. While attempting to rehab his image, he faces long odds of ever returning to prominence due to his permanent reputational damage.
The Matt Lauer story ultimately stands as a cautionary tale about the consequences of abusing power and trust. His stunning downfall shows how quickly even media titans like himself can see their careers and legacies completely erased in the #MeToo era. For Lauer, his prospects remain very much an open question as he searches for personal redemption.
Frequently Asked Questions About What is Matt Lauer Doing Now
What were the accusations against Matt Lauer?
Matt Lauer was accused of inappropriate sexual behavior by multiple women over many years while at NBC News. This included having an affair with a colleague and a pattern of sexual harassment and misconduct in the workplace.
How many accusers came forward against Lauer?
There were at least 8 formal accusers, but reports suggested the inappropriate behavior spanned over 20 years.
What was Lauer’s response to the allegations?
Lauer initially said some of the accusations were untrue, but later admitted he acted inappropriately at times without denying all the claims.
When was Lauer fired from NBC?
Lauer was fired from NBC News in November 2017 after the allegations against him became public.
What were Lauer’s roles at NBC News?
Lauer co-anchored the Today Show for 20 years from 1997 to 2017 and also periodically filled in as anchor for NBC Nightly News.
How much was Lauer paid at NBC annually?
At the time of his firing, Lauer was earning around $25 million per year as co-anchor of Today.
Where does Lauer live now?
Lauer mainly lives an extremely private life at his home in the Hamptons area of Long Island, New York.
Is Lauer in a relationship?
Yes, Lauer has been in a long-term relationship with former NBC colleague Shelly Ruhren.
Has Lauer made any public appearances since being fired?
No, Lauer has almost entirely avoided public events and appearances since the scandal broke in 2017.
What are Lauer’s future career prospects?
Most experts believe Lauer has no real path to return to a prominent media role and will likely remain in relative obscurity.
How old is Matt Lauer now?
Matt Lauer is currently 65 years old.
Did Lauer ever express contrition over his misconduct?
In his limited public comments, Lauer admitted wrongdoing to an extent but never expressed full accountability or remorse.
What percentage of the public still views Lauer negatively?
According to a February 2023 poll, 77% of Americans view Lauer in a negative light compared to just 5% positive.
Did Lauer’s misconduct only happen at NBC?
While the known incidents occurred at NBC, there has been some speculation inappropriate behavior dated back to earlier in his career.
Was Lauer’s firing handled properly by NBC?
There was some criticism over how quickly NBC fired Lauer after the allegations surfaced with limited due process.
Was Lauer’s behavior an open secret at NBC?
While upper management claimed surprise, there were reports that Lauer’s inappropriate conduct was an “open secret” among many rank-and-file employees.
Did other NBC personalities allegedly enable Lauer’s behavior?
There were unconfirmed rumors that some colleagues looked the other way or enabled Lauer’s perceived boorish conduct over the years.
Were there financial motivations for NBC to initially protect Lauer?
Some critics argued NBC News was motivated to keep Lauer employed as he was a key ratings driver bringing in hundreds of millions annually.
Will Lauer ever be able to fully redeem himself publicly?
Most experts are skeptical that Lauer can ever fully rehabilitate his brand and reputation after such a negative perception shift.
