Ann Curry has found herself in the spotlight in the wake of "Today" show host Matt Lauer being abruptly fired by NBC News over inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace. What, everyone wondered, did Curry -- a shortlived "Today" show host with Lauer -- have to say?

This morning in an appearance on "CBS This Morning," Curry finally addressed the controversy.

"I am not surprised by the allegations," Curry said, adding, "I can say that I would be surprised if many women did not understand that there was a climate of verbal harassment that existed."

Curry, who grew up in Southern Oregon, graduated from the University of Oregon and in her early days worked at Portland's KGW-8. She was with the "Today" show for 15 years. She briefly was co-host with Lauer, from 2011 to 2012, before she was reportedly forced out and made a tearful on-air goodbye.

At the time, and since, there was considerable speculation that Lauer may have played a role in Curry's ouster, something Lauer has denied.

Asked about whether Lauer was behind her departure from "Today," Curry said, "I don't know what was all behind it," adding, "I do know that it hurt like hell. It wasn't a fun moment. I've learned a great deal about myself. I've really at this point let it go. I've just let it go."

After Lauer's firing was announced on the "Today" show by Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb, social media exploded with posts suggesting Curry must be feeling vindicated, and should be considered as Lauer's replacement. Kotb was ultimately named as Guthrie's "Today" cohost.

(Watch the Ann Curry segment on "CBS This Morning" at http://cbsn.ws/2mF6HJk)

"CBS This Morning" hosts Norah O'Donnell and Gayle King acknowledged that the wave of sexual misconduct allegations has touched them, too. Their former cohost, Charlie Rose, was let go in November after being accused of sexual misconduct. John Dickerson has since been named as Rose's replacement on "CBS This Morning."

Curry was appearing on "CBS This Morning" to discuss her new PBS series, "We'll Meet Again," which tells the stories of people whose paths crossed at memorable moments, and who are reunited years later. Curry is the executive producer and reporter on the series, which premieres on PBS on Jan. 23.

Of the #MeToo movement, in which women are coming forward to share stories of sexual harassment in the workplace, media, politics and more, Curry said the attention to these issues is "absolutely overdue."

"We clearly are waking up to a reality, an injustice that has been occurring for some time," Curry said, and such circumstances will continue "until the glass ceiling is finally broken."

It's not a matter of people being attracted to coworkers, Curry said, but about the fact that equality is needed when it comes to the balance of power.

"I'm talking about people in the workplace who are powerful, who are abusing that power," Curry said.

The real question, according to Curry, is "what are we going to do with all of this anger? And it's not just, obviously, about where I used to work," but rather about a "pervasive" problem that occurs in workplaces all over the country.

"The question is, ultimately, what are we going to do about it?"

-- Kristi Turnquist



kturnquist@oregonian.com

503-221-8227

@Kristiturnquist