The True Story Behind ‘The Morning Show’ Was More Dramatic Than the Show
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The Morning Show, Apple TV+’s very expensive new series starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carrell is finally here. The dramatic series follows Alex Levy (Aniston), a long-time morning show host who’s reeling from the news that her coanchor and dear friend Mitch Kessler (Carrell) has been fired for sexual misconduct. Apple TV+ describes the concept as the “free fall of an early morning newscast in the wake of a scandal and its struggle to survive in an era when news arrives in the palm of your hand.”
So, while the show is based on a lot of different figures and stories from the book Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV, by journalist Brian Stelter, it’s impossible to ignore the striking similarities between the fictional morning show drama and the very real scandal at the Today show and the subsequent firing of Matt Lauer.
In case you need a recap, let’s check in on what actually happened with Lauer, Today, and his ex coanchor Savannah Guthrie.
Matt Lauer’s employment was terminated just as swiftly as Mitch’s.
On November 27, 2017, a colleague had come forward with allegations of Lauer’s sexual misconduct toward her, and NBC’s human resources and legal departments met with lawyers to file the complaint. Just one day later, Lauer was informed of his termination after 20 years as an anchor on Today. Just like in the series, his colleagues were left in the dark until a few short hours before going on air Tuesday, November 29, 2017.
Yes, even Savannah Guthrie.
Guthrie, Lauer’s longtime co-anchor, was told of the termination shortly before she was set to announce it live on television. While Aniston’s character Alex chose to break the news on her own, Guthrie was joined by Hoda Kotb. For the announcement, Guthrie read a note from NBC News chairman Andy Lack, and then added this:
We just learned this moments ago, just this morning. As I’m sure you can imagine, we are devastated and we are still processing all of this. And I will tell you right now, we do not know more than what I just shared with you. But we will be covering this story as reporters, as journalists, I’m sure we will be learning more details in the hours and days to come, and we promise we will share that with you.
And Hoda, I mean, all we can say is that we are heartbroken. I’m heartbroken for Matt, he is my dear dear friend and my partner, and he is beloved by many many people here. And I’m heartbroken for the brave colleague who came forward to tell her story, and any other women who have their own stories to tell.
She later reads Lauer’s apology on the air.
On November 30, 2017, Guthrie read a statement from her ex coanchor, apologizing for his actions...But he also says that some of the report is “untrue.” In short, he apologizes for hurting feelings and for his infidelity without really coming to terms with the severity of what he had done.
Following his departure, many more women came forward with allegations of their own.
After former NBC News employee Brooke Nevil came forward over Lauer’s inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace, including an alleged rape during the 2014 Sochi Olympics, many other victims came out with their own stories.
Another former employee, who chose not to be named, went to the New York Times alleging that Lauer locked her in his office and sexually assaulted her. Three other anonymous colleagues also came forward to Variety, saying that Lauer had gifted one a sex toy and exposed himself to another as well as other acts of harassment.
Lauer’s wife Annette Roque initially stayed with him and then later filed for divorce.
The couple’s marriage survived its first separation in 2006. It was then tested again by an infidelity scandal in 2016 over a rumored affair with his co-anchor Natalie Morales. Although both parties denied the affair, it’s believed the rumors led her to leave the show.
In August 2018, Lauer agreed to pay Roque $20 million in their divorce settlement, and on September 9, 2019, the divorce was finalized.
Hoda Kotb replaced Lauer as Today’s co-anchor.
Kotb had previously been the co-anchor of Today’s fourth hour, but in early January 2018, she replaced Lauer as the primary co-anchor alongside Guthrie. This made history for the show as it marked the first time that two women were the main hosts—much like on Morning Show after Bradley Jackson (Witherspoon) takes Mitch’s chair.
Lauer is back in the headlines in October 2019.
The release of Ronan Farrow’s new book, Catch and Kill, sparked another response from Lauer after generally lying low these past two years. In this book, Brook Nevils goes into more detail about what took place in Sochi with Lauer in 2014. This infuriated Lauer, prompting him to write a letter stating that their relationship was consensual and not an assault. Um. Did he learn anything?
If you or anyone you know has been sexually assaulted, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). A trained staff member will provide confidential, judgment-free support as well as local resources to assist in healing, recovering, and more.
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