Browsing articles tagged with " Ann Curry and Matt Lauer Feud"
Matt Lauer Admits Ann Curry’s Firing Was Not Handled Well, Talks Today’s Show’s Low Ratings
In an interview with the Daily Beast, Matt Lauer finally opened up about The Today Show’s drastic decline in ratings and the scandalous ousting of former co-host Ann Curry.
“It was a hard time for everybody,” Matt said about the negativity the show received. “We were getting kicked around a lot. Some of it was self-inflicted and perhaps deserved.”
“I don’t think the show and the network handled the transition well. You don’t have to be Einstein to know that,” he continued. “It clearly did not help us. We were seen as a family, and we didn’t handle a family matter well.”
Indeed, the show has suffered immensely in the ratings department since Ann Curry was let go and replaced by Savannah Guthrie. Since then, Matt himself has been the target of criticism over his alleged role in Ann’s departure, and the show’s dwindling popularity.
Though Matt has faced much of the backlash, NBC News’ former president Steve Capus is standing up for Matt, saying that the 55-year-old host is paying the price for a decision he was never behind; ‘When Matt was informed that we had made this decision [to fire Ann], his good counsel was to go slow, to take care of Ann, and to do the right things,” Capus explains. “He was quietly and publicly a supporter of Ann’s throughout the entire process. It is unfair that Matt has shouldered an undue amount of blame for a decision he disagreed with.”
For his part, Matt, is taking this experience as an opportunity to grow; “In some ways being No. 2 in the ratings is a real shot in the arm, a kick in the pants. It makes you hungrier … I don’t think it’s a bad thing to have a fire lit under your ass.”
And, while Matt and The Today Show have seen better days, Matt says he and his huge paycheck are going to stay positive; “I’m not going to whine or get depressed. Who’s going to feel sorry for me? Nobody.”
Matt Lauer’s “Freaked Out” By Name Calling Over Ann Curry’s TODAY Firing!
Matt Lauer is getting more than just a huge, $25 million dollar contract for doing the Today show, he’s also getting called names!
According to TMZ, Matt can’t walk down the streets of Manhattan without someone belittling and berating him for getting Ann Curry kicked off the show. A source at the network says he’s “miserable” over what he believes are hateful and unfair tirades. Matt says the harassment is constant, with people screaming things like “You’re a bad guy,”and “You got Ann fired. Does that make you happy?”
I would think the answer would be ‘Yes’ as part of Matt reportedly demanded TODAY fire Ann before renewing his contract.
Another source stated; “It’s driving him crazy. He’s so unhappy.”
Oh well. Poor overpaid Matt may be ”unhappy” but he is under contract with the show, so he can rest assured his bank account will remain intact, even if his reputation is going down the toilet.
TELL US – DOES MATT DESERVE THE NAME CALLING?
Ann Curry and Matt Lauer Have Tense Reunion on Air! Plus Ann Says NBC Hated Her Style
That awkward moment when you have to appear on television with your former co-worker who helped get you fired!
That was Ann Curry’s dilemma this morning as she reunited with her former Today Show co-host Matt Lauer on the air… on the same show that fired her just back in June. NBC chose to retain Ann after her ouster and has been using her for other news segments including their Olympics coverage.
As expected, their segment was awkward with Ann, 55, definitely giving Matt, 54, the cold shoulder.
For example when Matt greeted her with an “Ann, nice to see you,” she simply stayed quiet and nodded. She also failed to response when Matt greeted her with a “Good to see you” following her segment. Yikes. And so it appears this feud between Matt and Ann won’t be ending anytime soon.
Meanwhile, it appears Ann is sticking it to NBC (still her current employer) in a new interview with the Ladies Home Journal.
In her interview with the mag, done just before her June 28 departure from Today, Ann reveals that the network hated her style and wardrobe, you know, on top of hating her personality and reporting style!
“One day I wore a multicolored dress and someone asked if I was trying to be Toucan Sam. But I chose it because I thought, This will perk up America,” said Ann to LHJ. “I’m encouraged by my bosses to wear these ridiculously high-heeled shoes because women say, ‘I love your shoes!’ So if it makes women happy, I’ll wear them. But I’m still going to be me. . . .I’ve tried to wear clogs and flats on TV and it hasn’t gone well with my bosses.”
Interesting. Savannah Guthrie officially replaced Ann on the show last month though unfortunately, the ratings continue to take a dive.
Inside Ann Curry and Matt Lauer’s Feud! Matt “100 Percent” Wanted Her Fired
You could cut the tension with a knife during Ann Curry’s last day with NBC’s The Today Show.
After Ann, 55, announced her departure from the morning show, she hugged her co-hosts Al Roker and Natalie Morales, but when it came time to hug Matt Lauer, she would not look at him. And when Matt went in for a kiss, she refused to turn toward him.
She had good reason. For months now, several media outlets had reported Matt, 54, did not like Ann as his co-host and was urging NBC to fire her. Us Weekly is also confirming the rumors are indeed true in their latest issue.
“Matt Lauer is 100 percent behind Ann leaving,” a source reveals to Us Weekly. In fact, in the days leading up to her emotional departure, Ann and Matt “were really icy to each other, and she refused to speak to him all week.”
As for why Matt wanted Ann fired, it was because the ratings for ‘Today’ took a dip this year and he believed she was to blame.
“The body language was extremely tense,” the insider continues. A second source adds that Ann’s last day “was like a funeral in a way.”
Savannah Guthrie has since been named Ann’s replacement, though the THR reports the ratings have yet to see an improvement since Savannah took over. Maybe Ann wasn’t the sole problem after all? Plus I found myself rooting for Hoda Kotb, who was reportedly in the running, to get the job.
TELL US – SURPRISED THAT MATT WANTED ANN FIRED? IS SAVANNAH A GOOD REPLACEMENT?
Ann Curry To Be Fired From Today Show; Savannah Guthrie To Likely Replace Her
Just a year after taking over Meredith Vieira‘s vacated position as the co-host of The Today Show, a new report is confirming NBC is planning to fire Ann Curry.
This news is not exactly a surprise as there had been rumblings in the past couple of months that Matt Lauer did not like Ann and wanted her fired. Add in the fact that the Today Show ratings had taken a bit of a dip this year, and this seems like an easy decision for NBC.
The NY Daily News is reporting that NBC has been having secret meetings in hopes of finding a different role at the morning show for Ann, who took over the co-hosting gig following Meredith’s departure last June.
Unfortunately for Ann, the ratings took a bit of a dive this year and the network believes Ann, 55, who has been with “Today” since 1997, formerly serving as a news anchor, is partially to blame.
Even worse for Ann, sources close to her reveal she doesn’t want to leave the show. “She got her dream job, and she doesn’t want to let it go,” a source close to her told the Times.
Ann has however accepted her fate, and began discussions with network officials weeks ago. She also hired lawyer Robert Barnett to represent her in negotiations.
As for her replacement, Savannah Guthrie, who co-hosts the third hour at “Today,” is said to be the front-runner as well as Meredith! NBC is refusing to comment on this report.
[Photo Credit: Credit: Janet Mayer / PR Photos]
TELL US – DO YOU THINK NBC SHOULD REPLACE ANN CURRY?
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