Matt Lauer, once a prominent anchor on NBC’s “Today” show, is reportedly considering a return to the media industry eight years after his 2017 dismissal due to allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct. A recent report indicates that Lauer is exploring potential opportunities outside of television.
At 67, Lauer is contemplating a professional comeback. According to an insider, he has initiated conversations with industry contacts about re-entering the workforce.
Lauer’s termination from NBC in November 2017 followed a detailed complaint from a colleague. The network believed the incident was not isolated. Subsequently, former NBC employee Brooke Nevils accused Lauer of rape at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, an allegation he has denied, asserting the encounter was consensual. Additional allegations emerged, including claims of sexting female staffers.
After his termination, Lauer apologized publicly, acknowledging his role in causing pain. “There are no words to express my sorrow and regret for the pain I have caused others by words and actions,” he stated in a 2017 statement read by his former colleagues. “To the people I have hurt, I am truly sorry. 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.”
Since then, Lauer has led a quiet life in the Hamptons, New York, focusing on fatherhood. He shares three children with ex-wife Annette Roque: Jack, 24, Romy, 22, and Thijs, 19. Their divorce was finalized in September 2019, two years after the scandal.
Sources suggest Lauer harbors resentment towards the industry and former friends who distanced themselves. This has significantly altered his social circle.
Lauer has been in a relationship with Shamin Abas, a public relations and marketing professional, since 2019. Their partnership remains serious yet independent.
Post-NBC, Lauer has restructured his real estate holdings. He sold his Hamptons estate in 2022 for $43.99 million and a Manhattan apartment for over $7 million. He retains a property in New Zealand, a 16,000-acre farm known as Hunter Valley Station, purchased for approximately $9.2 million, which serves as a personal retreat.
Among the few enduring friendships for Lauer is his relationship with former “Today” host Bryant Gumbel. They communicate regularly, with Gumbel offering support as Lauer navigates life after the scandal.
Earlier this year, former CNN journalist Don Lemon predicted Lauer’s potential return to the news industry. However, such a move would present challenges, as his case was a prominent example of the media industry’s reckoning with workplace misconduct.
Allegations of sexual harassment have led to significant consequences for numerous public figures, prompting changes in how the broadcasting industry handles such complaints.
The media landscape has evolved since Lauer’s departure, with digital platforms, podcasts, and streaming services offering new avenues for content creators. While these formats provide opportunities, success is not assured.
Lauer remains dedicated to his role as a father, a stark contrast to his past as a high-profile morning show host with a significant influence in American media.
Whether Lauer will find a platform for a return to the media remains uncertain. While discussions have occurred, as noted by a source speaking to People, no definitive plans have been made. As the eighth anniversary of his firing approaches, the question of his re-entry into the media world continues to spark interest.
