Don Lemon has gone to bat for his buddy and former At the moment host Matt Lauer, claiming that “ladies love him” and the “basic public would settle for [him] again” on tv.
The previous CNN anchor talked about Lauer on a latest episode of the Hollywood Uncooked Podcast with Dax Holt and Adam Glyn, the place he stated if the previous NBC Information anchor got here “again to digital,” he might “set his personal course” for returning to the media.
Lauer joined NBC in 1992 because the co-anchor of the early weekday information present At the moment in New York earlier than becoming a member of the At the moment present full-time in 1994. NBC Information terminated Lauer’s contract in November 2017 after an unidentified feminine NBC worker accused him of sexually harassing her throughout the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
The accuser was later revealed as former NBC Information producer Brooke Nevils, who went public together with her story in 2019 in Ronan Farrow’s guide Catch and Kill. She alleged Lauer raped her in a resort throughout the 2014 Winter Olympics. Lauer denied the accusation, claiming the encounter was consensual and the allegations have been “categorically false, ignores the information, and defies frequent sense.”
Talking on the allegations, Lemon stated, “I don’t know something about what occurred, I do know nothing about that in any respect.”
He added, “I solely obtained to know Matt after, you understand, the entire state of affairs occurred as a result of we dwell in the identical city and we have now mutual mates. At any time when I see Matt out and about — or you understand, if we exit to dinner, my husband and I am going out to dinner with him and his fiancée — and folks love him.”
“Girls love him!” Lemon continued. “They’re like, ‘Man, oh my God, can I get an image? I like you. I miss you on tv.’ I feel the general public loves him. The general public misses him, however it’s simply the… it’s the individuals contained in the enterprise who’re afraid.”
Lemon himself was fired from CNN in April 2023, simply months after making controversial feedback on-air about ladies “of their prime.” This was adopted by a Selection exposé, which detailed his “diva-like” conduct on set and alleged mistreatment of feminine colleagues.
The veteran host later apologized for his feedback and “agreed to take part in formal coaching.” Nonetheless, CNN determined to let him go simply weeks later, with The Wrap reporting that the community and Lemon reached a separation deal value roughly $24.5 million.
On the Hollywood Uncooked Podcast, Lemon stated on this “complete Trump period,” the place a convicted felon with sexual assault allegations can turn into President, perhaps there’s a method for Lauer to stage a comeback.
“Possibly on this complete Trump period, when canceled is over, perhaps there’s a method that he’ll come again,” Lemon stated. “I feel it’s extra the people who find themselves inside the enterprise who’re involved about, you understand, what occurred with Matt.”
“I’ll put it this fashion. I feel most of the people would settle for Matt again. And I feel individuals would watch him and I feel the rankings could be nice,” he concluded.