It's been almost two years since Matt Lauer was fired from NBC's Today show over allegations of rape. New information has come to light about Lauer's alleged inappropriate behavior, and it involved his former co-worker in the morning show.
In the recently released book of American journalist Ronan Farrow, titled Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators, Kathie Lee Gifford revealed that she doesn't plan to stay in the show longer than 2017 until Lauer's scandal happened. Gifford said she had planned to exit the show long before she did, but it changed because of the accusations against Lauer.
The 66-year-old TV personality-songwriter-actress co-hosted the fourth hour of the show, titled Today With Kathie Lee and Hoda, alongside Hoda Kotb starting in 2008. She revealed that she had planned to leave the show even before the scandal broke out to pursue work in Nashville.
However, she was persuaded to stay after Lauer was fired from amidst multiple accusations of sexual misconduct in the workplace. In her statement last year, Gifford said she informed NBC in January of 2017 that she would be leaving to pursue her film projects. However, her plan was pushed back due to the turmoil in the show that ensued after allegations against Lauer were made public.
"Some things were painful for us. And we had to adjust, and then they said, 'If we accommodate your schedule, will you consider staying? ... So when they accommodated the schedule, then there was no reason to leave," Gifford said.
The Daytime Emmy-winner finally departed the Today Show in April 2019. Former President George W. Bush's daughter, Jenna Bush Hager, officially replaced Gifford as Kotb co-host.
Gifford moved to Nashville to pursue her career in creating music and movies. Doing what she wanted to do for a long time, Gifford recently performed two nights with the Nashville Pops Orchestra, where she received a Lifetime Achievement Award. She is also writing oratorios and currently stars in the Lifetime movie, Godwink Christmas 2: Meant for Love.
Meanwhile, Gifford is not the only former or current NBC anchor who expressed their thoughts about Lauer. Kotb is allegedly no longer talking to her close friend Lauer since the allegations were revealed. Also, former Today host Katie Couric is reportedly working on a tell-all book that is said to have Lauer "paralyzed with fear."
Couric has announced earlier this year that she will be released a new book. The book is reportedly titled Unexpected.
Reports have it that Lauer is concerned about what his former co-star of nine years might share in her book that could jeopardize his alleged plan to make a TV comeback. Due to his discomfort, Lauer is allegedly asking Couric if she could give him a preview of the book. The Unbelievable executive producer, however, doesn't plan to give Lauer what he wanted. Unexpected is scheduled to hit the bookshelves in 2021.
