Don Lemon has his friend Matt Lauer’s back after the former Today show host was forced out of his high-profile gig in 2017.
During an episode of the “Hollywood Raw Podcast With Dax Holt and Adam Glyn” on Wednesday, January 22, Lemon, aged 58, expressed his belief that Lauer, aged 67, could potentially make a successful comeback, perhaps through a podcast.
He stated, “I think that if he could come back to digital, he can set his own course,” and went on to mention that he only got to know Matt after the controversial situation took place.
The former CNN host said he has seen Lauer receiving positivity from fans firsthand during interactions while out in public.
Lemon shared, “Whenever I see Matt out and about or even when we go out to dinner with my husband [Tim Malone] and his fiancée, people show him love. Women in particular adore him, asking for pictures and expressing how much they miss seeing him on television.” He continued, “So, I think the public still has a soft spot for him. The audience misses him, but it’s the apprehension from those within the industry that holds him back.”
He added: “Maybe there is a way that he’ll come back, but I think it’s more of the people who are inside of the business who are concerned about, you know, what happened with Matt.”
Lemon said he believes that if it was up to the public rather than the networks and executives, Lauer would have a shot at returning to the public eye.
“I think the public… I’ll put it this way. I think the general public would accept — just me — would accept Matt back. And I think people would watch him and I think the ratings would be great.”
It’s not the first time suggestions of a return to the industry have been floated. Whispers of a return for Lauer became louder in April 2024 when a source told Us Weekly exclusively that the anchor was “planning a comeback” years after he was fired from NBC amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
“He’s started to talk to people,” the insider shared with Us at the time. “He’s planning his next act, still very upset with how he was portrayed, and still feels like he was the victim.”
Amid a slew of other high-profile men implicated in the #MeToo movement, the former Today host made headlines in November 2017 after a female colleague accused him of inappropriate behavior. He was ultimately fired that same month following the allegations. In 2019, journalist Ronan Farrow published details about the alleged assault in his book Catch and Kill. Lauer has denied all the accusations against him.
