Matt Laeur’s ‘Today’ co-anchor reacts: ‘We learned moments ago ... we’re devastated’

SACKED Matt Lauer’s co-host learned of the accusations against her “dear, dear friend” moments before going on air. It made for jaw-dropping TV.

US Today show host Matt Lauer has been fired after a colleague complained of sexual harassment — and his “heartbroken” co-hosts learned of his axing just moments before going on air to report the news.

Savannah Guthrie has been co-anchor of Today alongside Lauer for the past five years, but this morning was joined at the desk by fellow presenter Hoda Kotb.

Guthrie struggled to contain her emotions as she read aloud a statement provided by NBC News president Andrew Lack, announcing that the complaint against Lauer “represented, after serious review, a clear violation of our company’s standards”.

“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,” said Guthrie.

“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, I’m sure we will be learning more details in the days to come, and we promise we will share that with you.”

Her voice cracking, she turned to her fill-in co-host.

“And Hoda, I mean … for the moment, 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 continued.

Lauer was axed from Today overnight following a complaint from a colleague. Picture: AP

“We are grappling with a dilemma that so many people have faced these past few weeks: How do you reconcile your love for someone with the revelation they have behaved badly? I don’t know the answer to that, but I do know that this reckoning that so many organisations have been going through is important, it’s long overdue, and it must result in workplaces where all women — all people — feel safe and respected,” said Guthrie.

“As painful as it is, this moment in our culture, this change, had to happen.”

Co-host Kotb, who usually hosts Today’s fourth hour of television alongside Kathie Lee Gifford, reiterated Guthrie’s sentiments.

“This is a very tough morning for both of us. I’ve known Matt for 15 years, and I’ve loved him as a friend and as a colleague. It’s hard to reconcile what we are hearing with the man we knew … we were both woken up with the news pre-dawn and we’re trying to process and make sense of it,” she said.

In pictures from the set this morning, the two presenters could be seen embracing each other in a series of candid photos:

Co-anchors Hoda Kotb, left, and Savannah Guthrie embrace on the set of Today. AP

The pair prepare to break the news to the world. Picture: Getty

“We are heartbroken.” Picture: Getty

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