Matt Lauer’s estranged wife, Annette Roque, has been spotted horseback riding just a day after her disgraced news anchor husband spoke out for the first time since being fired from the Today show last year.
Roque was seen getting out of her vehicle on Wednesday as she prepared to enjoy a day out at a ranch located in The Hamptons, New York.
She donned a light blue long sleeve blouse with khaki pants while riding a black horse.
Matt Lauer’s estranged wife, Annette Roque (left and right), has been spotted horseback riding just a day after her disgraced news anchor husband spoke out for the first time since being fired from the Today show last year
She donned a light blue long sleeve blouse with khaki pants while riding a black horse (pictured)
Roque was seen grabbing a few things out of her vehicle as she prepared for her horseback ride
Roque is seen at the ranch in The Hamptons on Wednesday as another rider passes by her vehicle
Earlier this month it was reported that Lauer is in the final stages of finalizing his divorce with Roque.
The 60-year-old former host will have to dish out millions in his split with Roque, a source shared withPage Six at the time, adding that ‘the divorce is imminent’.
‘Matt is really just laying low at the moment,’ the source said. ‘He plays golf and sees his friends . . . His focus has been on the kids, and he knows there’s nothing he can do apart from wait.’
The couple had been married for 19 years, but Roque kicked him out of their home after he was fired from NBC last November when multiple allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced.
Roque was seen out and about on Wednesday just a day after Lauer claimed he’s being picked on because of ‘difficult times’ he’s been through.
The former Today Show host – who was fired by NBC in November over allegations of sexual misconduct – bought a 16,000-acre parcel in New Zealand’s South Island last year.
Earlier this month it was reported that Lauer is in the final stages of finalizing his divorce with Roque (left and right)
The 60-year-old former ‘Today’ host will have to dish out millions in his split with Roque (pictured, getting out of her vehicle), a source claimed at the time, adding that ‘the divorce is imminent’
The couple had been married for 19 years, but Roque kicked him out of their home after he was fired from NBC last November when multiple allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced
Roque (left) was seen out and about on Wednesday just a day after Lauer (right) claimed he’s being picked on because of ‘difficult times’ he’s been through
He passed the Overseas Investment Office’s ‘good character’ test to hold onto the land earlier this year, but has now become embroiled in a long-running dispute over public access to the land.
Although the conditions of his ownership allow for some public access, the country’s Walking Access Commission and Department of Conservation are now asking to put in an total easement on a 40km road that runs through Lauer’s property and into the pristine Hunter Valley – something he would be legally entitled compensation for.
With headlines across New Zealand saying taxpayers could be forking out money to millionaire Lauer for the access, the former newsman took to state broadcaster Radio New Zealand on Tuesday to defend himself.
Lauer said the government was trying to change the rules on him, that he had complied with nearly all requests for access thus far and that the application for the easement was unprecedented.
‘I believe the groups that are behind this are in some ways unfortunately taking advantage of some difficult times I’ve been through over the past six months and I think they see me as an easy mark,’ he said.
‘I don’t know what the problem [is] they’re trying to solve because we have never denied people access who have gone through the correct procedure and called the station and said they were prepared to be on the road and properly equipped.’
Lauer, 60, gave his first interview since he was fired by NBC to Radio New Zealand while trying to fight back against what he claims is misinformation regarding public access to a road on his $9M property (Lauer’s New Zealand property above)
Kiwi kounsel: He nearly lost the property after his firing due to a ‘good foreigner’ test that allows the government to take away the land holding of any non-residents whose behavior is deemed unacceptable (the home on the property above)
Asked if he would look for compensation, Lauer said he would ‘explore’ the notion, but denied he had already asked for a figure in the millions, as suggested in some reports.
‘I have not demanded a cent,’ he said.
The Walking Access Commission says access is currently at Lauer’s whim and that without full public access, the conservation park on the other side of the land is ‘essentially unusable’.
Lauer had been the Today Show’s host for 20 years before his dismissal and was reportedly one of the highest-paid news readers in the world.
In March, 2017 he purchased the Hunter Valley Station in Wanaka, which stretches along Lake Hawea.
The property is estimated to be worth $9million.
The dispute has also become a political football in New Zealand, with the government criticizing the previous administration for allowing Lauer to buy the land.