Matt Lauer, the former anchor of NBC's "Today" show, has commented on the controversy surrounding him and the accusations of sexual misconduct being thrown at him by several women. The media personality offered an apology and expressed sorrow and regret.
In a statement, Lauer said the stories being shared by his accusers made him feel embarrassed and ashamed. However, he also said that some of the stories are not true.
"Some of what is being said about me is untrue or mischaracterized, but there is enough truth in these stories to make me feel embarrassed and ashamed," said Lauer. "I regret that my shame is now shared by the people I cherish dearly."
Lauer says he feels regret for the pain he has cause other people through his actions and words. "To the people I have hurt, I am truly sorry. As I am writing this I realize the depth of the damage and disappointment I have left behind at home and at NBC," added Lauer.
On Wednesday, NBC announced that it has fired Lauer from "Today," following the news of multiple women accusing the anchor of inappropriate sexual behavior. The move of NBC was a big one, as Lauer is one of the most prominent figures in its broadcasting division and is considered one of the crown jewels of the network. Lauer earns an annual salary of $25 million from the network.
The first complaint was from a woman who met with human resources at NBC to discuss the matter. The complaint detailed Lauer's inappropriate sexual behavior that started on a trip to the Sochi Olympics in 2014.The inappropriate conduct allegedly continued for several months.
Andy Lack, chairman of NBC News, said that it is the first complaint about Lauer in over 20 years, but acknowledged that it may not be the last. However, according to sources, a number of women have complained about Lauer previously, but their concerns fell on deaf ears because of the amount of advertising that Lauer's "Today" show brought to the network.
