Matt Lauer’s first wife has spoken out to say that she supports the disgraced former Today Show host and say that some of the sexual misconduct claims against him might not be true.
‘I give him my support, 100 percent,’ Nancy Alspaugh told ET. ‘I was shocked because he’s such a stalwart at that network and in that job.’
Alspaugh was married to Lauer from 1981 to 1998, and referred to her ex-husband as ‘the best person that’s ever held that job.’ Though they parted ways in their marriage, she said the pair have stayed amicable and that she still has a close relationship with his mother and sister.
She said she can’t imagine that ‘anything he would have done – that would be so out of character for him – that would have caused that reaction.’
Matt Lauer’s first wife Nancy Alspaugh (pictured right) told ET that the ousted Today Show host has her ‘100 percent support’
Alspaugh was married to Lauer from 1981 to 1998, and referred to her ex-husband as ‘the best person that’s ever held that job.’ Though they parted ways in their marriage, she said the pair have stayed amicable and that she still has a close relationship with his mother and sister
The 62-year-old described Lauer as ‘incredibly nice, incredibly charming and incredibly willing to help anybody.’
She said that she didn’t see him as the type of person who could ‘abuse his position in any way.’
And that’s what she says is so shocking about the new allegations against Lauer.
On Wednesday morning, Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb announced on the Today Show that their co-host had been fired from his $25-million-a-year position at NBC after a 24-hour investigation.
The woman, who hasn’t been named, told NBC bosses on Monday that Lauer had sexually harassed her while they were covering the Sochi Olympics in 2014.
Alspaugh said these allegations are shocking to anyone who knows Lauer.
‘I want to get out the fact that he made a contribution to my nonprofit, that he helped me when my husband died,’ she told the outlet, referring to him as selfless.
Alspaugh said these allegations are shocking to anyone who knows Lauer (pictured on November 16). She also questioned the legitimacy of some of the claims against him, saying that ‘some of the things that are being stated may not be true’
On Wednesday morning, Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb announced on the Today Show that their co-host had been fired from his $25-million-a-year position at NBC after a 24-hour investigation. Pictured left to right are Al Roker, Guthrie, Lauer and Kotb on Monday November 27
She also questioned the legitimacy of some of the claims against him, saying that ‘some of the things that are being stated may not be true.’
‘We have to find that out, you know? As time goes on here, people should be aware there’s a family involved here.’
‘There are three children and that’s — I think it’s important to be aware that this can destroy a family. Reporting on accusations before they know whether they’re real or not.’
LAUER ADMITS SHAME AND WRONGDOING
There are no words to express my sorrow and regret for the pain I have caused others by words and actions. To the people I have hurt, I am truly sorry.
The last two days have forced me to take a very hard look at my troubling flaws. It has been humbling.
Some of what is being said about me is untrue or mischaracterized. But there is enough truth in these stories to make me feel embarrassed and ashamed.
I regret that my shame is now shared by the people I cherish dearly.’
As I am writing this I realize the depth of the damage and disappointment I have left behind at home and at NBC
I am blessed to be surrounded by the people I love. I thank them for their patience and grace.
Repairing the damage will take a lot of time and soul searching and I’m committed to beginning that effort. It is now my full time job.
Alspaugh also said that she heard from a reporter a week before the story broke on Wednesday, when NBC Chairman Andy Lack sent an email to the entire staff to inform them Lauer had been fired.
She said she called him and told him she’d been questioned, and claimed Lauer told her: ‘Whatever they were going to come out with was fabricated.’
On Thursday morning Lauer’s former Today Show co-hosts read the ex-anchor’s full apology on the air.
‘There are no words to express my sorrow and regret for the pain I have caused others by words and actions. To the people I have hurt, I am truly sorry,’ said Lauer.
‘The last two days have forced me to take a very hard look at my troubling flaws. It has been humbling.
‘Some of what is being said about me is untrue or mischaracterized. But there is enough truth in these stories to make me feel embarrassed and ashamed.
‘I regret that my shame is now shared by the people I cherish dearly.’
Lauer’s legal team began working towards getting him a $30million golden parachute from NBC, Page Six reported.
His lawyers are also believed to be devising a plan to get him the $20million he would have earned through his contract, which would have lasted until the end of 2018, but a morality clause may stop him getting anything.
NBC chairman Andy Lack told staff that Lauer had been fired in a memo Wednesday.
‘On Monday night, we received a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace by Matt Lauer,’ he wrote.
‘It represented, after serious review, a clear violation of our company’s standards. As a result, we’ve decided to terminate his employment.’
Lauer’s former co-worker who has accused him spoke to Variety and the New York Times before coming to NBC.
Variety published its article Wednesday afternoon, and in it the woman claimed Lauer sexually harassed her. The article also goes into detail about nine other unidentified women who made their own claims against him.