Katie Couric has remained silent about the allegations leveled against her longtime former colleague Matt Lauer, but now says the claims are ‘upsetting’ and hints she will speak out.
Couric, who worked alongside the now disgraced Lauer on the Today Show for nine years, responded to a fan on Instagram who lambasted the newswoman for staying mum.
The bubbly personality felt it necessary to respond, writing: ‘It’s incredibly upsetting and I will say something when I’m ready to. Thanks for your interest.’
Katie Couric and Matt Lauer were co-anchors for nine years on the Today Show. She has been silent on the allegations against her colleague but hints she will say something
‘This viewer feels very deceived’: Couric felt it necessary to nip this comment in the bud. Couric called the situation with disgraced Lauer ‘upsetting’ and hinted that she will speak out
The first onslaught by the fan was pointed largely at Couric for not speaking up about Lauer
The instigating comments were made on a photo the anchor shared of herself and her daughter Carrie, saying she couldn’t sleep and missed her.
The first of the two comments from IG’s candacetaylorbenson that prompted Couric’s response read: ‘Nothing to say on Matt?? Huh- y’all would have been all over the story years ago.
‘I watched y’all for YEARS. My childhood. Just goes to show you really can’t trust people.’
The fan continued: ‘He interviewed people on their moral character and had none himself.’ Before pointedly adding ‘You have nothing to say. Crickets. People hear you loud and clear though.’
In a second comment the woman, who was now catching heat from others on Couric’s page – in part because Couric’s post was about her daughter and sleep struggles, would not let up and further expounded.
‘I’m annoyed, hurt, disappointed.’ The woman than added: ‘No accountability. Nothing. Hours and Hours and Hours and believing that he is a good person is well heartbreaking. And deceiving. At the end of the day this viewer feels very deceived.’
The woman behind the IG account suffered an onslaught of comments for her bravado in pushing Couric about her silence since the allegations against Lauer exploded November 29
Couric, who was most recently an anchor for Yahoo! Global News, has stayed quiet since Lauer’s allegations came to light November 29.
She was spotted out in Los Angeles smiling the following day.
Since that time, a 2012 Watch What Happens Live interview with Bravo’s Andy Cohen resurfaced, in which Couric is asked about Lauer’s most annoying habit during the ‘Plead the Fifth segment.’
She did not, at that time, plead the fifth.
‘He pinches me on the a** a lot,’ Couric responded after taking a brief pause.
The New York Times and Variety have both published investigations which chronicle other alleged incidents of impropriety.
Among their claims is that Lauer gave them sex toys with instructions on how he wanted to use them. Others say he had a button under his desk which allowed him to lock the door from his seat.
Several former staffers, and people who had interacted with Today Show staff through the years, said alleged sexual misconduct and harassment was not a secret among Lauer’s colleagues.