Matt Lauer firing reactions: Former colleagues are 'in shock'

Maeve McDermott | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Matt Lauer fired from 'Today' NBC's 'Today' announced the sudden termination of anchor Matt Lauer amid an allegation of inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace.

Following the news of NBC's decision to fire Matt Lauer over sexual misconduct claims, many of the host's former colleagues spoke out in shock and dismay about the charges. .

NBC News chairman Andy Lack announced Lauer's termination in a memo to staff that was read at the top of Wednesday's Today show, citing "detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace" for the reason behind his firing.

Natalie Morales, who co-anchored the Today show with Lauer before replacing Billy Bush on Access Hollywood, discussed his firing on Access Hollywood Live Wednesday morning, saying she "woke up to the news like everyone this morning — just in shock."

Morales acknowledged the rumors that she and Lauer had an affair, which they have both previously denied. “I have personally dealt with rumors in the past for years that were hurtful to me, my family – they diminished my hard work. I’ve addressed those rumors head-on in the past," she said. "That is not the story today. The story today is the courage of a colleague who did come forward, and when and if she wants to tell her story publicly, I’m sure she will. But it did take a lot of courage for her to come forward. It was no doubt a very painful decision.”

Former Today show anchor Ann Curry, whose 2012 departure was the show's last major controversy up until the Lauer news broke, declined to comment directly on Lauer's firing during an interview with People, saying, “I’m still really processing it.”

However, she did address the wider epidemic of sexual misconduct, telling the magazine, “The women’s movement got us into the workplace, but it didn’t make us safe once we got there. And the battle lines are now clear. We need to move this revolution forward and make our workplaces safe. Corporate America is quite clearly failing to do so, and unless it does something to change that, we need to keep doing more ourselves.”

On Wednesday's episode fo Megyn Kelly Today, the newest member of the Today franchise noted, "This one does hit close to home. I’ve known Matt for a long time, and he has been a friend, and kind, and supportive to me in my transition to NBC. And I see the anguish on my colleagues' faces. But when this happens, we don’t see the pain on the faces of those who found the courage to come forward."

Earlier on Today, weatherman Al Roker noted he and the other hosts were “dealing with the news of our friend of 30 years, and we’re all trying to process it," adding, "We’ll deal with it along with you folks, as well.”

More: Matt Lauer fired from NBC for 'inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace'

7 things to know: Matt Lauer News anchor Matt Lauer was fired from his longtime position as the co-anchor of NBC’s Today Show after allegations of sexual misconduct.

Meanwhile, President Trump linked Lauer's firing to his ongoing feud with "fake news" networks, using the news to bash several of his adversaries.

"Wow, Matt Lauer was just fired from NBC for 'inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace,'" the president tweeted. Trump, who has also made headlines about sexual harassment recently for reportedly questioning the Access Hollywood tape of him making vulgar comments about women, continued calling for investigations into NBC.

"But when will the top executives at NBC & Comcast be fired for putting out so much Fake News. Check out (NBC News president) Andy Lack’s past!"

The president followed with another tweet criticizing MSNBC president Phil Griffin and Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough, calling them "Fake News practitioners."

Rose McGowan also reacted on Twitter, writing, "Don't let the door hit you on the way out, Matt Lauer."

Wow, Matt Lauer was just fired from NBC for “inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace.” But when will the top executives at NBC & Comcast be fired for putting out so much Fake News. Check out Andy Lack’s past! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 29, 2017

Don't let the door hit you on the way out, Matt Lauer. "Today Show" #ROSEARMY — rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) November 29, 2017

Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb reacted with statements on the Today show, with Guthrie saying she's "heartbroken" by the news.

"He is my dear, dear friend and my partner, and he is beloved by many, many people here," Guthrie said. "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."

"We are grappling with a dilemma that so many people have faced these past few weeks," she continued. "How do you reconcile your love for someone with the revelation that they have behaved badly? I don't know the answer for that. But I do know the reckoning that so many organizations have been going through is important, it's long overdue and it must resolve in workplaces where all women, and all people, feel respected."

"This is a very tough morning for both of us," Kotb said. "I've known Matt for 15 years, and I've love him as a friend and as a colleague. And like you were saying, Savannah, it's hard to reconcile what we are hearing with the man that we know, who walks in this building every single day. We woke up to this news pre-dawn, and we're trying to process it and make sense of it, and it'll take some time."

Matt Lauer has been terminated from NBC News. On Monday night, we received a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace by Matt Lauer. As a result, we’ve decided to terminate his employment. pic.twitter.com/1A3UAZpvPb — TODAY (@TODAYshow) November 29, 2017

Other Hollywood names voiced their opinions on Lauer's firing, including Corey Feldman, who pointed to his heated interview with Lauer on the Today show last month, in which the host accused Feldman of not being forthcoming with his own experiences with sexual misconduct in Hollywood.

"HMMMMM INTERESTING.....THIS MIGHT EXPLAIN THE HOSTILE INTERVIEW WHILE I WAS TRYING 2 EXPOSE THE #TRUTH....EH MATT?" Feldman tweeted.

HMMMMM INTERESTING.....THIS MIGHT EXPLAIN THE HOSTILE INTERVIEW WHILE I WAS TRYING 2 EXPOSE THE #TRUTH....EH MATT? NBC Fires Matt Lauer Over Sexual Misconduct Allegation - The New York Times https://t.co/ZYQVSLR4U4 — Corey Feldman (@Corey_Feldman) November 29, 2017

Meanwhile, several media reporters claimed that they'd heard about the allegations against Lauer, and that the New York Times and Variety were working on their own exposés.

"I, and other reporters , have been aware of several women who have come forward privately in the past few months...even before Weinstein," tweeted journalist Yashar Ali. "They weren’t willing to go public though...they were terrified of Matt."

I, and other reporters , have been aware of several women who have come forward privately in the past few months ...even before Weinstein. They weren’t willing to go public though...they were terrified of Matt. https://t.co/jR3VV1AWGt — Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) November 29, 2017

For the last two months, @EWagmeister and I have been reporting on a story about serious sexual harassment allegations against Lauer. There were multiple victims. https://t.co/jW2QEeDOqo — Ramin Setoodeh (@RaminSetoodeh) November 29, 2017

Reporters for the @NYTimes had been investigating Matt Lauer for several weeks. Here's my story -- updating it every few minutes https://t.co/vZnRELwC2C — Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) November 29, 2017

Even Lauer's alma mater, Ohio University, weighed in on the scandal.

"We are disappointed to hear of Matt Lauer’s alleged conduct at NBC News," the Scripps College of Communications tweeted Wednesday. "We believe all people deserve to work in a safe, positive and nurturing environment, and that any incidence of sexual misconduct should be handled with the utmost respect and care."

Ohio University had a vested interest in Lauer's career, especially after he helped create a stipend that provides financial support for OU students interning on Today. School spokeswoman Carly Leatherwood told WOUB, the school's public broadcasting station, that more than 60 students have interned at Today since the program began in 2000. Four more are set to begin Today internships in January.

Leatherwood said there are no plans to re-evaluate the program in the wake of Lauer's ouster.

Contributing: Jayme Deerwester