As we discussed, Matt Lauer was fired and forced out of the Today Show after a woman named Brooke Nevils came forward to NBC executives and told them what Lauer had done to her. Those executives then failed to protect her and spent months pushing her out, then they gave her a seven-figure settlement and wanted her to release a statement denying parts of her claim. What was the claim? That Matt Lauer had raped her in his hotel room in Sochi, Russia during the 2014 Olympics. Nevils spoke in detail about what went happened to Ronan Farrow as part of Farrow’s new book, Catch and Kill.
Nevils discusses in detail how she had been drinking with Meredith Vieira and Lauer drank with them too. Nevils was quite drunk when she went to Lauer’s room to retrieve her press credentials, which he had taken as a “joke” (or to lure her there). At some point, he forcibly sodomized her as she repeatedly said no and wept. Then, when everyone returned to New York, Nevils and Lauer saw each other and had an “affair” of some sorts – she felt like he had all the power and that he could destroy her career. Which is true – remember Lauer’s power play in pushing Ann Curry out over NOTHING. Anyway, Matt Lauer has released a slimy and lengthy statement about what went down with Nevils. Hint: in his mind, everything was consensual and he’s, like, the modern Don Draper. You can read the full thing here at Variety. Some highlights:
He claims he & Brooke Nevils had a completely consensual affair: “In a new book, it is alleged that an extramarital, but consensual, sexual encounter I have previously admitted having, was in fact an assault. It is categorically false, ignores the facts, and defies common sense. I had an extramarital affair with Brooke Nevils in 2014. It began when she came to my hotel room very late one night in Sochi, Russia. We engaged in a variety of sexual acts. We performed oral sex on each other, we had vaginal sex, and we had anal sex. Each act was mutual and completely consensual.
Lauer says the first night in Sochi wasn’t abusive: The story Brooke tells is filled with false details intended only to create the impression this was an abusive encounter. Nothing could be further from the truth. There was absolutely nothing aggressive about that encounter. Brooke did not do or say anything to object. She certainly did not cry. She was a fully enthusiastic and willing partner. At no time did she behave in a way that made it appear she was incapable of consent. She seemed to know exactly what she wanted to do. The only concern she expressed was that someone might see her leaving my room. She embraced me at the door as she left.
The affair: This encounter, which she now falsely claims was an assault, was the beginning of our affair. It was the first of many sexual encounters between us over the next several months. After we returned to New York, we both communicated by text and by phone. We met for drinks, and she met me at my apartment on multiple occasions to continue our affair. Our meetings were arranged mutually. At no time, during or after her multiple visits to my apartment, did she express in words or actions any discomfort with being there, or with our affair. She also went out of her way to see me several times in my dressing room at work, and on one of those occasions we had a sexual encounter. It showed terrible judgment on my part, but it was completely mutual and consensual.
He wasn’t powerful enough to get her fired: Brooke now says that she was terrified about the control I had over her career and felt pressure to agree to our encounters after Sochi. But at no time during our relationship did Brooke work for me, the Today Show, or NBC News. She worked for Meredith Vieira (who had not worked for the Today Show in several years) in a completely different part of the network, and I had no role in reviewing Brooke’s work.
He ghosted her & that’s why she’s doing this: I admit, I ended the affair poorly. I simply stopped communicating with her. Brooke continued to reach out. She admitted to NBC at the time she filed her complaint that she called me late at night while I was home with my family in an effort to rekindle the affair. But I attempted to go back to my life and pretend as if nothing had happened. I understand how that must have made her feel. However, being upset or having second thoughts does not give anyone the right to make false accusations years later about an affair in which they fully and willingly participated.
There’s a lot more but I couldn’t contain my bile. I believe Brooke Nevils. I believe Lauer brutally assaulted her in Sochi while she was too drunk to consent, and even then, she verbally said “no” repeatedly. I believe that. Neville also admitted to Farrow that she had an affair with Lauer in New York, and Farrow points out (repeatedly) that this is quite common with rape victims. At no point does Lauer even admit the power imbalance. At no point does he acknowledge his own power within the walls of 30 Rockefeller. At every point, he blames Nevils for EVERYTHING. It’s disgusting.
Also: in the immediate wake of Lauer’s firing in 2017, the New York Times did a story where MULTIPLE women spoke anonymously about Lauer assaulting and harassing them. It’s not *just* Brooke Nevils, although she’s the only one brave enough to put her name to it. Update: Okay, I simply meant to say that Brooke Nevils is brave, it was not my intention to say that other survivors were NOT brave. After reading Lauer’s self-pitying bulls–t, I was just in awe of Nevils for standing up and telling her story.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
He raped a powerless assistant in his office until she passed out unconscious. Nevils is far from the only woman he did this to. He’s a rapist. Honestly I can’t stand looking at his rat-like face.
He is a rapist. I said it yesterday and I’ll say it again, he needs to be in jail. He is a threat and his statement reaffirms my belief that he still doesn’t see what he’s done and in fact HE’S the victim. He honestly doesn’t see the pain and devastation he’s caused. He needs to be locked up because he will do this again. He is a sexual abuser who will keep on abusing.
Indeed. She should have gone to the POLICE. This is the only way to put someone in jail. By getting 7-figures from NBC and a book deal, she didn’t put him in jail, but she did get the money.
right, because the police have such a good record of 1) believing rape victims, 2) not blaming rape victims (kind of like YOU are), 3) taking rape investigations seriously… ESPECIALLY when the accused is a famous and powerful man.
there are SO many reasons that women don’t report rapes. DO NOT blame this woman for Lauer not being in jail.
I don’t think it’s our place to say how a rape survivor should cope/proceed. It’s TRAUMA. She can do whatever she wants/needs, or is able to do. Let’s stop policing their choices and judging their behaviors. It’s not about YOUR common sense, it’s about about how a human being is able to cope with abuse and heal, as best as she can.
She’s not obligated to go to the police. He’s obligated by law and society to not rape.
The only way we are going to put a rapist in jail is to go to the police. This is not blaming. It is a fact.
ondine, here are some facts for you.
The rape occurred in Sochi, not the United States. Charges cannot be filed in the US, because the crime took place outside of US. I can imagine that it would be difficult to go to the police anywhere, but especially in a foreign country where you don’t know the language and where they have a horrible track record with crimes against women. Russia doesn’t have an extradition treaty with the US, so he isn’t going to be charged.
In rushing to judge the victim, you forgot about the real facts in this case.
Tiffany, these kinds of fear messages are exactly what silence women. We need to encourage women to report because it’s the only way we increase the chances of putting a perpetrator behind bars. Go with a friend, go with a colleague. It’s scary but the more we put the messaging out there to report, the more we empower women (and men who experience this, too.)
At the very least, a police or medical report (either overseas or in the United States) puts it on record and increases credibility.
The optics are why she is getting backlash. She went back for more multiple times. She says it’s common that women continue a relationship with their rapist, but statistically, it’s disadvantaged women who feel they have no out–not a well-educated white woman with a six-figure salary.
She got a 7-figure settlement from NBC and now she’s selling a book. Back to the original commenter’s point that Lauer needs to be in jail, this is unfortunately not the path to putting a criminal behind bars.
Yes, I believe her. Yes, she is a victim. And when she chose to continue the extramarital affair along with her subsequent choices, she went from victim to equal partner against the real victims–his wife and children.
@Ondine: Being cheated on and experiencing divorce should not be out on the same level of victimization as getting raped. Matt Lauer was the common denominator in all the sex crimes AND infidelities in his marriage, so no, what she did in her trauma does not make her equal to him. You brought up disadvantaged women as if education and money make people respond to abuse only in healthy ways, but maybe it doesn’t every time? If money and education are supposed to make her a less sympathetic victim of what she went through, then shouldn’t his ex-wife be considered a less sympathetic victim of cheating based on the fact that she checks off all the same boxes as this woman?
I expected a denial (because really what else is he going to say?) but this statement is really disturbing. Portraying her as the despondent dumped lover and making it sound like this is a Fatal Attraction-esque scenario…..that’s awful.
I saw his response at another site and found it so vile that I could not read past the first 3 sentences. How he thinks his comments exonerate him is scary to consider. That is how he thinks. He is awful. I pity his children. He should be in jail.
I hope with all my heart that he is now finished once and for all.
The problem is like any sociopath, I suspect that he truly believes what he is saying.
I do, too. There’s just something about the way this thing is written. He believes it.
Sociopaths don’t delude themselves with their own lies. They don’t care enough about anyone’s opinion to have the need to.
Yep. Sociopath. He should be in jail.
Castration is too good for him.
“ …she’s the only one brave enough to put her name to it.”
She’s the only one READY. Victims are not cowards.
I noticed that too. Good point.
I agree the wording could be better. But she IS brave for putting her name out there. I emphatically believe that Kaiser did NOT (and would NEVER) imply that the other victims are cowards. Maybe change the wording?
I added an update. My intention was simply to be in awe of Nevils’ bravery.
Thank you!
As a survivor, I hear you. It is big and it is scary. And you KNOW they are going to smear you and call you a liar, and do all they can to discredit you.
Isn’t this the guy who had an electric lock on his office door? Or am I mistaking him for some other rapist?
Yes, Matt had an electric lock on his door with the button under his desk. The fact NBC would approve that cost is very telling in their complicity to keep their “star” happy.
I remember one story when a woman came in for a meeting he hit the button bent her over her desk and had sex with her without consent. Women were just meat to him to relieve himself on.
Matt is just pissed since he was trying to do comeback and Ronan stopped that.
Lauer is a pig, absolutely. The door-lock button doesn’t necessarily support that, though. According to the Washington Post, the building had installed that feature in several offices before Lauer moved in. It was for privacy, so that executives could keep people out while on important phone calls, and for security in case of an active shooter scenario. The door was only locked from the outside of the room. You don’t need the special button to unlock it from the inside.
Genius photo choice on the bottom photo. It shows his twisted nature.
Right? You can see the devil come out of him.
Textbook narcissist. He is the victim ALWAYS. Makes me wonder at the abuse his wife must have suffered. I hope other survivors come forward.
His wife’s statement on this was…telling. Basically: we’re divorced my only concern is for our children, no other statement will be made. Yeah.
He did it. I have no doubts. He’s garbage. Anyone who supports or supported him should be looked at. Especially NBC executives!!
The fact that he “ghosted” her and expected her to disappear at his whim- he wanted his life back and she needs to go away – tells me so much about him. He used her and she was disposable. If some one is your equal- if the affair is consensual, you don’t just dispose of the other person.
He doesn’t realize how that makes him sound: like a narcissist user at best and a rapist a-hole at worst
This is so important for people to understand. When a person portrays themselves as a victim all the time for show in a relationship, they frequently are the perpetrator (real victims are typically too ashamed & don’t showboat their abuse). Remember this when your family & friends try to pit you against someone & use you as their flying monkey. Don’t bite.
what vile piece of crap…
Again, we bow down to Kaiser, the best photo editor on the internet.
The comments on the NY Times article range from supportive to batshit crazy, including a ridiculous claim that all of this is because Mia Farrow wants to get back at Woody Allen. But quite a few people are harking back to when Lauer interviewed Drumpf and Clinton during the campaign – he softballed Drumpf and then repeatedly went after Clinton about….her emails. I remember that, and how overtly hostile he was to her. Hater.
What Matt Lauer doesn’t comprehend or care to acknowledge is that some women after being assaulted do begin a transactional relationship with their rapist. It’s not consensual or an “affair.” No woman, or man, can give consent if they’re that drunk. By all accounts, Lauer only had a couple of drinks that night in 2014? It’s a wonder that I don’t truly dislike men at my age. But men like Ronan Farrow, my boyfriend, a few others do give me hope.
TIL “some women after being assaulted do begin a transactional relationship with their rapist.” This gives me hope. Maybe one day I’ll be able to actually stop blaming myself instead of pretending I have.
Market, reading your comment made me so profoundly sad. Hugs, hugs, hugs. You are strong and worthy of so much respect.
Oh, Market…..Good vibes to you.
Going back to the person who assaulted/raped someone can also be normal trauma response. It seems counter intuitive to the people who have not experienced trauma, or educated themselves, but it can be mind boggling and produces too much shame, to admit to yourself that you’ve been raped or assaulted (and by someone you trusted). The brain can tell you it didn’t happen, minimize the abuse & victim’s can be drawn back to the perpetrator to “reenact” the situation, while hoping for a different outcome, so they can pass off the abuse as maybe not abuse after all & live more comfortably. They also may be hoping to start controlling a situation that was very much out of their control before.
Contrary to what people say in our culture, very few women want to be the victim of abuse, and even after it occurs, will try to normalize it for their own mental health & minimize the unrelenting shame that often accompanies abuse.
Market- I hope you are kind & patient with yourself. Tons of compassion sent your way.
Oh, this makes me ache for you. There is no “right” or “wrong” when you are trying to heal. Please be gentle and kind to yourself, you are deserving of kindness and love. I wish you peace.
Who is his agent? Who represents him? I want to call that person and tell them by all means to take his money- take as much as they can get- but keep this hideous, cancerous pustule off the airwaves. For Brooke, for his other victims, and for the way he sandbagged Hillary.
Unfortunately, in a “belief” contest between a random man and woman, the man will be believed over the woman. Social scientists should do experiments about this, like they did back in the day when a paper was “written” by either a Jane Doe or John Doe and it was judged a better paper when John wrote it. Kicker–it was the exact same paper! I think that’s why it takes multiple women saying the same thing about a man to make people disbelieve a man. I don’t know what the ratio is, 5 to 1? 8 to 1? That would be an awesome social science experiment, too. So I think asshole Lauer has reached the tipping point with the multiple women accusing him. Thus, the “me, too” movement. 8.5 women equal one man (or some such ratio). In other words , you need a gaggle of women to take down a powerful white male rapist/sexual assaulter/harasser, etc. That’s why Anita Hill, God bless her, was figuratively shot down at the hearings. They were going to have their token black man who voted like a racist, sexist, homophobic white man, damn it. And what’s Matt’s punishment? Losing his job and walking away with millions. That’s the best they can do? Shit. Just shit.
Everything you said here is so true. Regardless of his reputation, if a man says a woman had consensual sex with him (or someone else), there will always be people who defer to him for ‘the truth’ and believe him over the woman. Even when other abusive behaviors on his part come to light. I believe Brooke.
I obviously believe Brooke.
But there are so many people who are going to see this as, “she’s just bitter that he ghosted her” and assume it’s not true. It was smart of him to put that in there because for a lot of people who are looking for a reason to doubt this story, that’s enough of a reason (in their twisted minds) to shift the blame onto her.
He is garbage. The only good thing about his response, is that it reminds everyone of that fact.
Of course he’s innocent. Aren’t they all? Massive🙄 He and his ilk make me physically ill.
Matt Liar…
+1000000000000
Why has he not been arrested after being credibly accused of raping multiple women?! Nothing will change until our justice system starts holding rich, White men accountable for their crimes.
Agreed.
statute of limitations? only first degree rape and sexual assault has no limitations in NY. any lesser charge gives you 5 years to report if you are over 18. its possible his crimes wouldn’t constitute as 1st degree since he didn’t use a deadly weapon, kidnap her or commit any other felony while committing the rape. in which case too much time has passed for her to bring charges. it is sick.
They both say it happened in a foreign country..i don’t know that going to the police here would make a difference…(?)
Because it’s an allegation, it needs to be investigated! Imagine that, researching a claim versus automatically throwing them in jail!
It’s interesting how he keeps mentioning all the “people” who knew about his “affair” with Brooke and I how he hopes they come forward because they can basically vouch for him there was no rape. His buddy Andy Lack has already said he believes Brooke.
I wonder if Meredith is one of the people I think she told Andy Cohen she is still friends with Matt despite knowing he “allegedly” raped her assistant in 2014 and assaulted/harassed multiple other women.
This POS while still at NBC had an electric door lock on his office.
Who authorized the expense?
Who authorized the work order?
Who installed the lock?
And the other executives had that too?
*snort*
They are all complicit there still>
Must be hell for his school aged children.
@Chris that’s exactly what I’m thinking too. Those poor kids.
Yes, his family are victims as well. What a repugnant piece of crap.
“Enthusiastic”
What a f*cking pig.
THANK YOU
Absolutely loathsome
His disrespect and contempt for women is just oozing from this statement.
i can’t even talk about him. he’s a POS.
but brooke nevils is inspiring and brave and i’m so sorry she had to endure his abuse. i have always loved meredith viera but i’m glad she had brooke’s back.
He makes me so nauseated, I can’t even. What a vile, despicable excuse for a human being. Thank you for amplifying the heinousness of this story and the brave words of his victims. Some day our shouting will drown out the cries of “she’s just mad cause i ghosted her.”
And bravo to Farrow, he deserves so much respect and success for his dogged pursuit of these villains.
When I look at him now all I see is weasel
Why are we listening to anything this rapist has to say??
His larger then life ego will not admit any wrongdoing.scum
Here’s what I don’t get. I am a peon, nobody living in the depths of the heart of America. I am not connected to anyone at the Today show. However, I heard years and years ago that Matt Lauer was a creepy, sexual assaulter. When I took friends to NY and they wanted to see the taping of Today, I told them I’d drop them off but wouldn’t support Lauer. Now how did I hear about these things but none of his coworkers or bosses did? I ain’t buying it. They knew. They all knew and they turned their heads.
@Cay agree 100%. I don’t believe a single, solitary one of them who claimed to be “shocked” yesterday. Tbh I think they should have just left that part out of their statements and simply condemned the action and said something in support of Brooke. It makes them look disingenuous IMO.
Same with Weinstein.
Listen, I’m a cheater. I cheated a lot very much and enthusiastically. I cheated here and I cheated there. Then when I had enough and the excitement wore off for me I pretended she didn’t exist and ignored her. Guess that made her feel bad maybe? But anyway I didn’t rape so I’m not a bad person. Thank you for hearing my side of the story.
If you want to know a mans true colors…give them power over others and see what they do with it. He’s a rapist.
I worked in the media business in NYC for a couple of years in the very early 2000s. There were three men all the executive assistants for the big media companies talked about as guys that were known predators…Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer and Les Moonves. It has been so interesting for me to watch this drama unfold almost 20 years later, the biggest surprise for me is that it took so long. There’s not a chance in hell that the NBC brass didn’t know Lauer was a creep and a predator for many years, all their executive assistants talked about it over drinks after work, it was a regular topic of conversation.
100%. Everyone knew. Not just executives, but all of his colleagues at that network. Including the other anchors.
He had an ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK on his office door at 30 Rockefeller.
He also doesn’t wash his jeans.
Rapist POS.
Any “man” who has a special button on his desk to lock victims inside his office is not to be believed on any count. He is a twisted monster and should be in prison.
Well, that smarmy statement certainly persuaded me…
Must I keep saying it?
Shutting up is free. It’s okay to be cheap.
When I was anally raped by my then partner, I didn’t cry nor did I put up a fight. We were having sex. So, did I deserve what happened to me? Did my silence translate into consent? No. Shock and pain does that to you – it shuts you down to the point you can’t even breathe, let alone scream or try to get a 80-90 kilos man off you.
Yesterday’s post was triggering to me. This one enrages me. We, the victims, do not owe anyone any explanation. We deserve the time we need to process and heal through our trauma. We also deserve to be heard without being questioned about the veracity of what we experienced.
I agree with everything you said. Healing is a long process and everyone takes their own time. Please take your time. I wish you strength and peace.
He is pure trash. And I can’t wait to read Catch and Kill but I started reading She Said last night and I have to finish that first. I’ve only just begun but She Said is amazing already!
It appears Brooke’s story was corroborated because in the various press reports, it was Meredith Viera who told her to report it to HR.
He’s getting slammed in every headline out today, so at least we have that.
“At no time did she express in words or actions any discomfort” says a guy who has a lock on his office for talking to female employees. Also, a suggestion: can we have pics from Spongebob squarepants (or puppies) rather than this scum bag in these post to help with gag reflex reading this horrible stories by at least not having to look at his disturbing face
Addie Collins Zinone’s statement was powerful.
It is so very unfortunate that others did not protect her from him, and from the aftermath at the time. Thank you for doing so now.
Can I just point this out: “…with my family”- at home with his family.
It’s always the biggest POS that resort to this bull about being a wonderful family person and essentially using them as human shields.
He betrayed them in numerous ways numerous times and yeah he cares about his family? And if his side pieces call his house they are to blame, not him??
What did anyone see in him? That’s confusing.