Matt Lauer fired by NBC, accused of "inappropriate sexual behavior"

[tezi]

I am sorry that Matt Lauer behaved inappropriately. I liked him on the "Today" show.

I am glad his accusers came forward and NBC did the right thing.

<modsnip>

I just hope this doesn't create a backlash against women in the work place.

I hope Willie Geist is Matt Lauer's replacement.

On another note, I CAN NOT stand Anne Curry.

All statements are jmo.

 

[Madeleine74]

Al Roker? Have allegations been made against him?

 

[EuTuCroquet?]

Yeah, Hollywood, where high-profile actors still work with child rapist Roman Polanski.

Great point. Might be worth discussing on the Weinstein thread. It’s definitely worth talking about, imo.

 

[EuTuCroquet?]

I’m all for speaking out against abusers but you don’t want to go along with the abuse and then speak out against them later because by that point, you’ve already endured too much.

Jumping off your post, AToH; not directing this at you personally. I believe there’s an overall misconception that when stories like this break that it’s the “first time” any victim has spoken about it.

Sometimes that’s the case. But more often it’s not. It’s just the first time they’ve spoken *publicly* about it. For myriad personal and acceptable reasons. Most have shouted and murmured for years, if not decades. (I’m speaking from experience, too.)

So, sometimes the exaltation to “Report it now! Speak up! Fight! Kick! Scream! Yell! Stop it!” minimizes and belittles the pain, experiences, struggles and action so many have taken for so long up to this point. At times, I’ve felt this way when I see/hear presumptive comments that might unintentionally imply other victims haven’t done “enough,” and, personally, sometimes it’s been demoralizing and frustrating.

I understand and agree with empowering women to speak up. I think most of us here do, to be honest.

I’m just trying to add a some context in light of the bigger picture.

 

[EuTuCroquet?]

Now especially, since companies do have policies about harassment in the workplace, and instructions where and how to report such an incident, everyone should feel empowered to speak up. It's vital to document the incident with as much detail as possible. Companies are taking this seriously. Maybe not 15 to 20 years ago, but they are now.

Key word you used here is *should.* Unfortunately, not everyone *is* empowered to speak up.

For example, and to stay on topic, a top-level leadership change at NBC in 2015 (not 15 or 20 years ago) likely helped foster a healthier culture of accountability. I’m guessing.

The woman who came forward knew she was up against a long history of management protecting and/or ignoring Lauer. Company profits were on the line. She was hypervigilant in keeping documentation. She had to know she was risking her own career, too.

I imagine she realized she needed VOLUMINOUS proof *just to be taken seriously.* This woman needed a mountain of proof. Not just of harassment against her, but of her colleagues, too. ... Just to be taken seriously.

And she nailed it. She’s one example of multitudes in careers and offices across this nation.

She is an incredibly brave woman. I am in awe.

Things might be “better” than they were 15 or 20 years ago (or 25 or 30 years ago), but there’s still a lot of work to be done to end harassment, misogyny, discrimination and abuse in the workplace, imo.

MOO

 

[AlwaysShocked]

The published articles said that Victim #1 provided incontrovertible evidence. That sounds like a Weineresque photo to me - one that included a recognizable face along with exposed genitals. Other victims said Lauer apparently liked to shoe off his penis.
Such a pig.

 

[Madeleine74]

I imagine she realized she needed VOLUMINOUS proof *just to be taken seriously.* This woman needed a mountain of proof. Not just of harassment against her, but of her colleagues, too. ... Just to be taken seriously.

She needed proof--one picture provided proof. Plus her statement. She may have had info about other colleagues, but that was icing on the cake.

 

[Tawny]

I believe if it had been one photo, it would have been ignored as "one time" or "one slip up."

 

[Pickl]

I don't in any way condone or support sexual misconduct in the workplace, however I have a hard time believing all these so called allegations, seems to me like it has become a snowball affect, and women are just jumping on the band wagon because it has become the latest most popular thing to do,

I can't imagine how much money women are making off settlements we never even hear of in the news all because a man/celebrity might have accidentally bumped into a womans breast at a christmas party 20 years ago

After women have come so far over the past 20, 30, 40, or 50 years to obtain equal rights (or try to anyway) in the workplace, all of this is going to end up setting women in the workplace back to where they began in the long run,

Men will now begin to start ignoring women at their workplace, and they will quit associating with them out of fear for these allegations, and if men start doing that, what do you think the bosses will do???.....they will simply stop hiring women to avoid these kinds of situations

 

[Tawny]

Wrong wrong wrong.

I don't even know where to begin addressing how wrong that post is.

What men are learning is that women aren't going to tolerate all their little flirtations and "innocent" touching. That we've never liked it and only now are we emboldened to take a stand, because historically, women have been burned at the stake socially and professionally if they spoke up about a powerful man who was sexually inappropriate. That's why it feels like a "snowball." It's because the more women who come forward, the more comfortable other women feel, the safer they feel. NOT BECAUSE THEY WANT PROFIT ffs.

The idea that men will start "ignoring" us in the workplace is absurd. If a man feels he has to ignore women for fear he may be accused of misconduct, maybe he should look at his own behaviors. It does SUCH a disservice to MEN in the workplace to imply they are too stupid to know the difference between what's appropriate and what's inappropriate. For every man I've had an inappropriate workplace experience with, there were dozens who were never anything but professional.

Men are capable of acting professionally and appropriately around women. PREDATORS are not, and PREDATORS are what have a rude awakening coming at them.

What an ignorant stance to take, blaming the WOMEN for the actions of predatory MEN.

 

[EuTuCroquet?]

It was far more than "one picture," iirc.

She needed proof--one picture provided proof. Plus her statement. She may have had info about other colleagues, but that was icing on the cake.

ETA: Found link with details. "At least one photo," multiple messages, plus proof it wasn't an isolated incident and her thorough report. Lest we minimize the time and effort she invested to document and report Lauer's behavior, imo.

Matt Lauer had been fired for &#8220;inappropriate sexual behavior in the work place,&#8221; as reported in a &#8220;detailed complaint from a colleague,&#8221; misconduct that Lack offered &#8220;may not have been an isolated incident.&#8221;

snip

Then employed as an intern, the Post reports, the female junior production employee was allegedly sent the messages, which amounted to &#8220;incontrovertible proof of inappropriate sexual behavior on his part,&#8221; after Lauer approached her at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

snip

Reports Page Six, &#8220;There&#8217;s at least one picture [sent to her by Matt] which was a major part of the evidence, which is why the firing came so quickly &#8230; my understanding was it was so damning that it was unquestionable whether or not he should be fired.&#8221;

http://www.vulture.com/2017/11/matt-lauer-allegedly-texted-employee-evidence-of-misconduct.html

 

[EuTuCroquet?]

It's frustrating that I've seen so little change in the workplace in the past 20 years.

Literally, the only woman I know who has successfully sued on a complaint of sexual harassment never worked in her chosen field again. She was so disgusted by the entire experience that she went back to college to get another degree and work in another field. And guess what, it changed &#8212; for the better &#8212; the toxic culture at the place she sued.

I don't think it's a bandwagon anyone "jumps on" willy-nilly. But that's just MOO. ... YMMV.

I don't in any way condone or support sexual misconduct in the workplace, however I have a hard time believing all these so called allegations, seems to me like it has become a snowball affect, and women are just jumping on the band wagon because it has become the latest most popular thing to do,

I can't imagine how much money women are making off settlements we never even hear of in the news all because a man/celebrity might have accidentally bumped into a womans breast at a christmas party 20 years ago

After women have come so far over the past 20, 30, 40, or 50 years to obtain equal rights (or try to anyway) in the workplace, all of this is going to end up setting women in the workplace back to where they began in the long run,

Men will now begin to start ignoring women at their workplace, and they will quit associating with them out of fear for these allegations, and if men start doing that, what do you think the bosses will do???.....they will simply stop hiring women to avoid these kinds of situations

 

[Madeleine74]

It was far more than "one picture," iirc.

I believe you're misunderstanding what I said and I don't know how to make it simpler.

I never said the intern only had 1 picture. I said proof of Lauer being inappropriate could be achieved in one picture (showing Lauer in a compromising position, having sent this picture to the intern). I never claimed what the intern had in the way of evidence.

That the intern had more than 1 picture is additional proof, lots of proof, something that can't just be refuted. In fact, Lauer did not refute it, because he couldn't. She also had her statement to the legal & HR departments, as well as her lawyer in tow. All of that combined created a compelling presentation of the inappropriate dealings of Lauer.

 

[Madeleine74]

During one of my contract jobs, which covered a 15 month period in 2012-2013, I just so happened to sit right next to the HR employee relations team of a large public company in my area. As everyone besides senior management was in cubes, with no barriers to block sound, I could hear many of their conversations and their side of various phone calls. I was not in their department and my job had nothing to do with HR, but sitting in that particular assigned cube gave me an insight into this part of employee harassment procedures.

This company took harassment claims seriously. They did all kinds of investigations and I overheard many calls where they talked to witnesses, the employee who filed the complaint, and even the person being complained about.

More and more companies (public companies) have groups devoted to ensuring employee policies are followed.

I think things are improving bit by bit, not fast, and probably not fast enough, but it's a wave that is building momentum.

When I say everyone should feel empowered to speak up, I mean starting now. No one should be made to sit there quietly, being sexually harassed. I know some women do, and are afraid for their jobs, but I believe there are more resources and awareness now than ever before. Again, not fast enough, but it's building.

 

[EuTuCroquet?]

Thanks for clarifying, Madeline

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

Good riddance! Today show ratings soar after Matt Lauer's firing over claims of sexual misconduct

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-causes-Today-ratings-bump.html#ixzz517qRhQL6

 

[Elley Mae]

I don't in any way condone or support sexual misconduct in the workplace, however I have a hard time believing all these so called allegations, seems to me like it has become a snowball affect, and women are just jumping on the band wagon because it has become the latest most popular thing to do,

I can't imagine how much money women are making off settlements we never even hear of in the news all because a man/celebrity might have accidentally bumped into a womans breast at a christmas party 20 years ago

After women have come so far over the past 20, 30, 40, or 50 years to obtain equal rights (or try to anyway) in the workplace, all of this is going to end up setting women in the workplace back to where they began in the long run,

Men will now begin to start ignoring women at their workplace, and they will quit associating with them out of fear for these allegations, and if men start doing that, what do you think the bosses will do???.....they will simply stop hiring women to avoid these kinds of situations

While I believe some others seem frivolous. It’s as if a man makes the first move with a kiss and it’s unwanted it’s sexual harassment/groping.

 

[Jade]

I don't in any way condone or support sexual misconduct in the workplace, however I have a hard time believing all these so called allegations, seems to me like it has become a snowball affect, and women are just jumping on the band wagon because it has become the latest most popular thing to do,

I can't imagine how much money women are making off settlements we never even hear of in the news all because a man/celebrity might have accidentally bumped into a womans breast at a christmas party 20 years ago

After women have come so far over the past 20, 30, 40, or 50 years to obtain equal rights (or try to anyway) in the workplace, all of this is going to end up setting women in the workplace back to where they began in the long run,

Men will now begin to start ignoring women at their workplace, and they will quit associating with them out of fear for these allegations, and if men start doing that, what do you think the bosses will do???.....they will simply stop hiring women to avoid these kinds of situations

I believe the opposite. It’s a different day and men are no longer in charge of everything. It is because we have come so far we can get some satisfaction beyond a sharp elbow in the creep’s ribs.

Nobody cares about what the lechers’ think- other guys don’t like them either. That’s why they are getting thrown under the bus right and left.

We big boob gals can tell you how many times there have been “accidental” on purpose breast brushes.

Decent guys are aware of and steer well clear.

We don’t get to decide the victim’s feelings.

Maybe the women who had a breast brush had been sexually abused and are triggered by the contact or maybe devoted to a religion that male touching outside of marriage is sinful.

Some may have shrugged off the breast brushes but when accusations start falling like snow we can say “me too”.

I loved the movie “9 to 5” which addressed the unbalance in the workplace. Here is a recent interview with the screen writer who mentions her fear of blow back but she is talking about the entertainment industry.

https://work.qz.com/1150399/a-lot-has-changed-for-working-women-since-1980s-9-to-5-even-more-hasnt/?utm_source=YPL&yptr=yahoo

 

[MaryG12]

Good riddance! Today show ratings soar after Matt Lauer's firing over claims of sexual misconduct

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-causes-Today-ratings-bump.html#ixzz517qRhQL6

Just got a wild idea here...

What if NBC Today show regularly got, on a rotating basis, all women, including those Lauer sexually harassed?

I don't have cable tv and don't watch the show but love the idea.

 

[MaryG12]

I loved the movie &#8220;9 to 5&#8221; which addressed the unbalance in the workplace. Here is a recent interview with the screen writer who mentions her fear of blow back but she is talking about the entertainment industry.

https://work.qz.com/1150399/a-lot-h...-5-even-more-hasnt/?utm_source=YPL&yptr=yahoo

RSBM

That was a very memorable movie, I always saw it as on the brink of two social issues: one, in the real good old days when it was not at all uncommon for a male boss to end up marrying his secretary (of course, the first movie that comes to mind is "Phantom of the Range" 1936 where ranch owner Tom Tyler does end up marrying his secretary but of course he is no ordinary male boss), and two, feminism, women's employment opportunities in the workplace - which in 1980 when "9 to 5" was released, women were still trying to make advances in certain fields, as they still are today (like STEM and IT). Then you have the higher-education issues. Who here remembers that Columbia College within Columbia University in New York started admitting women as recently as 1983? Doesn't seem like that long ago.

I know when my parents were young, employment was segregated in the Help Wanted ads in the newspapers, they were divided by male and female (see attachments as historical curiosities). Nowadays that sort of thing would never be seen because it is illegal.

from The Morning News, Wilmington, DE, June 6, 1944