Katie Couric Once Said Matt Lauer 'Pinched' Her Butt 'A Lot' In Interview
The words are being seen in a new light after the firing of the longtime 'Today' show host following allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior with female employees. Couric and Lauer co-anchored 'Today' for 15 years, from 1991 to 2006, and was asked by the 'Watch What Happens Live' host what her colleague's most annoying habit was. "He pinches me on the ass a lot," Couric replied half-smiling. "I wouldn't have a problem with that," Cohen joked in response. The alleged incident that got Matt Lauer fired from Today reportedly happened at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia in 2014. However, there were several incidents with other women according to Variety. One said Lauer once gave a colleague a sex toy as a present, including an explicit note detailing how he wanted to use it on her. Another claimed he asked a female employee into his office and dropped his pants to expose himself and scolded her when she didn't want to take the bait. The New York Times reports that a woman told them Lauer asked her into his office in 2001, locked the doors, pulled down her pants, and proceeded to sexually assault her in his office. It's now being revealed that it was an open secret that Lauer often cheated on his wife of 19 years. "He regularly cheated on his wife," one source told People. "Everyone knew. His wife lives in the Hamptons and he lives in the city, but we never heard he made unwanted moves." "That wasn't a secret, but sexual misconduct is a shock. He was friendly and approachable with everyone, and was very well-liked." In a 2012 interview with Andy Cohen, Katie Couric said Matt Lauer used to repeatedly pinch her butt when they worked together.