Is it wrong to pray for a sinner? Kathie Lee Gifford has come under fire after she said she is praying for her "Today" co-host Matt Lauer, who was promptly fired after facing several sexual harassment allegations.
During a recent episode, Gifford was talking to her co-host Hoda Kotb, who said she was "devastated" over the news. Their co-host, Savannah Guthrie, agreed and expressed sympathy towards the women who claim to have been victimized by Lauer.
However, the comments that generated the most criticism came from Gifford. She compared Lauer's alleged actions to the infidelity of her late husband, Frank Gifford. The host forgave her husband and decided to move on.
"I'm grappling with, should I even share something? But I guess I really should. I don't feel that Matt has betrayed us in any way at all but when I found out that my husband had betrayed me, you question your own judgment," she said. "You say, 'Was everything a lie?' And I think we have to very much fight against that, that the man we know and adored was the man we loved and adored and continue to. I texted him this morning and said 'I adore you and no person is perfect in this world.' Nobody is."
"We've all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, is what scripture says. And what we need now is forgiveness and mercy for one another. And we don't need taunts and we don't need ugliness. We have enough of that in the world," she continued.
After making that statement, Gifford was heavily lambasted on social media, according to Glamour. Some women were upset that Gifford would try to undermine the testimonies given by Lauer's victims by preaching about forgiveness.
"The reaction from Kathie Lee Gifford [is] so disheartening. Just want to scream 'IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU!' You can feel for your friend, but you should not use your platform to undercut the women who came forward (especially before you know the whole story)," a Twitter user wrote.
"The more I hear about Matt Lauer, the more infuriated I am watching Kathie Lee Gifford make excuses and spread love for this creep. Women's careers were hurt, many people knew what was going on, execs are now forced to come to Jesus," another commented.
