Katie Couric says she didn’t know about Matt Luer’s behavior

Katie Couric had no idea that her former co-host Matt Lauer was a serial sexual harasser, as it’s been claimed, the veteran journalist said.

During a chat at TheWrap’s Power Women Breakfast in Austin on Sunday, Couric, 61, said she was shocked when Lauer was fired from the Today show, which he headed for 20 years – 15 of those alongside Couric.

‘We had a wonderful working relationship,’ she told Editor-in-Chief Sharon Waxman. 

‘It’s shocking, honestly, and disturbing, disorienting, disheartening — all of those d-words. 

Veteran journalist Katie Couris said on Sunday that she had no idea about her co-host of 15 years Matt Lauer’s alleged serial sexual harassment

‘We had a wonderful working relationship,’ the 61-year-old former Today show host said Lauer, who was fired last November over claims of sexual harassment (They’re pictured in 2010)

As to how she could have failed to notice Lauer’s behavior, which is said to have been common knowledge at NBC, Couric replied that it’s not rare for co-workers to miss that kind of thing.

She explained: ‘I don’t think people paid much attention to it. In my case, it was something I was unaware of because if you talk to experts about this, people are very proficient at being secretive about certain behavior and making sure people don’t witness certain behaviors.’  

Lauer was fired by NBC last November after multiple women reported being harassed by the Today show star, who earned $20 million a year. They claimed he exposed himself, made comments of a sexual nature, and kept sex toys in his office – as well as a button on his deck to close the door when he wanted privacy to pursue extramarital affairs.

Ann Curry, who worked at Today, has said she would be surprised if anyone at NBC didn’t know about Lauer’s inappropriate behavior.

It’s not the first time Couric has denied knowing about Lauer’s behavior. In January she told People ‘The whole thing has been very painful’ for her.

‘I think I speak for many of my former colleagues when I say this was not the Matt we knew. Matt was a kind and generous colleague who treated me with respect,’ she said.

Couric said it’s not strange for her to have missed Lauer’s behavior, as ‘people are very proficient at being secretive about certain behavior and making sure people don’t witness it’

Ann Curry, who worked at Today, has said she would be surprised if anyone at NBC didn’t know about Lauer’s inappropriate behavior

During her most recent comments, Couric added that despite the attention accusations against Lauer received, the issue of sexual harassment is much larger than his particular case.

‘I think, he’s not the only one who behaves in this way. People all over the place … have participated in this kind of behavior, that have used their power in an exploitative and unacceptable way.

‘Cultures have existed in the media, and in every arena, where behaviors were tolerated, people looked the other way, it was an accepted way of doing business,’ she said.

Couric also shared her thoughts on how to stop sexual harassment at work places: including more women in leadership roles.

Lauer’s multiple accusers claimed he exposed himself, made comments of a sexual nature, and kept sex toys in his office – as well as a button on his deck to close the door when he wanted privacy to pursue extramarital affairs

‘Culturally, it’s a huge problem: the tone that is set from the top. About having a complete male management structure, the very presence of women reduces toxic masculinity in the work place,’ she said. 

And what would she tell the man she worked with for 15 years, who’s career has been completely destroyed?

‘I hope he’s trying to figure out and understand his behavior and why he did it and why it was so wrong,’ she replied. 

Couric  

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