In light of the assault and harassment allegations directed at former Today show anchor Matt
Lauer, many of the morning show icon's on-screen moments are now being reviewed through a much
darker lens.
Lauer was fired from his post at NBC in November 2017 after 20 years with the network.
Given these awkward, cringe-worthy segments, it now seems surprising that his career survived
for so long.
Madonna
When Lauer sat down with Madonna in 2003 for Dateline, he began by asking her about an
editorial in The New York Times that essentially declared her too old to be relevant.
She wasn't amused, arguing that artists shouldn't need to fall into a certain age group in order
to have worth in the business.
"It's just disrespectful and it's absurd."
He followed by asking her if she feels threatened by younger pop stars Britney Spears and Christina
Aguilera.
"Would you like those 17 year olds to buy your records?
I mean, you're the age of their parents."
Lauer then pushed the Queen of Pop to explain why she was still famous compared to other
artists with the same amount of talent.
"You started in this business with people that we don't talk about anymore.
Why are we still talking about you?"
"I don't know.
Go ask them."
It's safe to say that after this segment, Madonna probably started tuning into Good
Morning America instead of Today.
Sandra Bullock
Oscar-winner Sandra Bullock appeared on Today in 2009 to promote The Proposal, in which
she has a particularly amusing scene — without clothes — with co-star Ryan Reynolds.
"The major thing that's changed since you were here last?"
"Yes."
"I have now seen you."
[Laughter]
And throughout the interview, he couldn't seem to let it go, joking that the scene was
his new screensaver.
"You're ---- for most of this movie!"
[Laughter]
"It's a long stretch."
"No, I'm not!
I'm not for most of this movie!
Emotionally."
And towards the end, he — of course — brought it up again.
"Did I mention you have a scene in this movie?"
"Pretty much from the time you opened your mouth."
"Sandra Bullock, come back more often."
"No, not after this interview."
Vince Gill's daughter
During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live in January 2014, Lauer admitted that
he'd been ogling country singer Vince Gill's daughter, who performed as Amy Grant's backup
singer on Today.
"And I kind of went up behind him and I said 'I know!
Are those things real?'
And he turned to me and said, 'They'd better be real!
That's my daughter.'"
Anne Hathaway
In December 2012, Anne Hathaway was photographed having a wardrobe malfunction while exiting
a car at the Les Miserables premiere.
When she appeared on Today the same week to promote the movie, Lauer was less than kind,
though she remained composed and classy.
"Nice to see you.
We've seen a lot of you lately"
"Sorry about that.
I'd be happy to stay home, but… the film."
Lauer kept going, asking if she learned a lesson.
The Oscar-winner calmly responded that it was an "unfortunate incident" that made her
sad.
"I was very sad that we live in an age when someone takes a picture of another person
in a vulnerable moment and rather than delete it, and do the decent thing, sells it."
Miley Cyrus
In 2013, during Miley Cyrus' twerking phase, she appeared on Today, and Lauer asked her
about her MTV Video Music Awards performance.
"Is the side of you that we're seeing a lot of right now something that's going to be
here for a while?"
Cyrus sassed back that it would perhaps be when she turns 40, since she heard that's
when people lose their drive in the bedroom.
"Don't say that.
Do you know how old I am?"
"I'm gonna guess forty."
"I love you again!"
Pippa Middleton
When interviewing Pippa Middleton in June 2014, following the royal wedding for her
sister, Kate Middleton, and brother-in-law, Prince William, Lauer steered the conversation
towards Pippa's clothing choice for the big event.
"For lack of a better way to explain it, the way your dress fit."
Pippa said the attention was a little "embarrassing" and that her dress was meant to be "almost
insignificant."
GM CEO Mary Barra
In 2014, Lauer faced criticism following an interview with General Motors CEO Mary Barra,
in which he asked her,
"There are some people who are speculating that you also got this job as a woman and
as a mom…
You could present a softer image and softer face as this company goes through this horrible
episode."
"Well, it's absolutely not true.
I believe I was selected for this job based on my qualifications."
Lauer later asked if she could handle the pressures of the new job on top of being a
mom.
"You know, I think I can."
Pot and kettle
In September 2017, in what now looks like a case of the pot calling the kettle black,
Lauer interviewed Fox News personality Bill O'Reilly, who'd been fired due to harassment
allegations.
"Did you ever send a lewd text or email to another employee at Fox News?"
"No."
Like Lauer, O'Reilly claimed to have had no human resources complaints brought against
him ahead of his firing, calling the termination a, quote, "political and financial hit job."
"And so why didn't you sue those women if you say you did absolutely nothing wrong?"
Not long after this interview, Lauer would face his own public scrutiny after being accused
of harassment himself.
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