Don Lemon Says ‘People Love Matt Lauer’ Despite Scandal, Predicts Comeback 7 Years After NBC Firing

Don Lemon said viewers still “love” former Today cohost Matt Lauer, predicting his friend could make a career comeback seven years after his sexual misconduct scandal and firing from NBC.

“Whenever I see Matt out and about or, you know, even with us, if we go out to dinner, my husband [Tim Malone] go out to dinner with him and his fiancée and people love him. Women love him. They’re like, ‘Man, oh my God, can I get a picture? I love you. I miss you on television.’ Right?” the former CNN host, 58, said about Matt, 67, during the Wednesday, January 22, episode of the “Hollywood Raw Podcast With Dax Holt and Adam Glyn.”

“And so, I think the public loves him. The public misses him, but it’s just the … it’s the people inside the business who are afraid of,” Don continued.

The Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native explained, “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.”

“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,” he predicted.

Don thinks a podcast could be the perfect comeback vehicle for the former NBC personality, stating, “if he could come back to digital, he can set his own course.” The I Once Was Lost author went on to explain that he only got to know Matt after “the whole situation happened.”

The “situation” Don referred to was Matt’s firing from Today on November 29, 2017, after a female coworker filed a detailed complaint with NBC accusing him of inappropriate sexual behavior when they covered the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

Savannah Guthrie was joined by Hoda Kotb, as they read a statement NBC News Chairman Andy Lack sent to staff. It said that the complaint against Matt, “represented, after serious review, a clear violation of our company’s standards. As a result, we’ve decided to terminate his employment.”

The news boss added, “While it is the first complaint about his behavior in the over 20 years he’s been at NBC News, we were also presented with reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident.”

The New York City native joined Today in 1994 as the news anchor and was promoted to cohost in January 1997. Matt was replaced by Hoda, 60, as the full-time cohost of Today following his termination.

Following a two-month investigation, Variety published a bombshell report about Matt on November 29, 2017. They spoke to three different female colleagues who identified themselves as victims of sexual harassment by the TV host, going into graphic details about their alleged encounters.

“He couldn’t sleep around town with celebrities or on the road with random people, because he’s Matt Lauer and he’s married. So, he’d have to do it within his stable, where he exerted power, and he knew people wouldn’t ever complain,” a producer familiar with the incidents alleged.

Matt broke his silence the following day with a statement that was read on Today.

“There are no words to express my sorrow and regret for the pain I have caused others by words and actions. 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,” the father of three wrote.

He continued, “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. I regret that my shame is now shared by the people I cherish dearly.”

“Repairing the damage will take a lot of time and soul searching and I’m committed to beginning that effort. It is now my full-time job,” Matt added, saying he “was forced to take a very hard look at my own troubling flaws.”

A year and a half after Matt’s firing, his then-wife, Annette Roque, filed for divorce in July 2019. Matt and Annette, 58, finalized their divorce in September 2019. Matt began dating current girlfriend Shamin Abas in 2019 amid his marriage ending.

As of November 2024, Matt was living a “quiet life” in the Hamptons, People reported. “He’s actually doing well and happy,” a friend told the publication.

After Hoda announced she was stepping down from cohosting Today in September 2024, an insider told In Touch that Matt was interested in getting his former job back.

“Matt’s hoping for a miracle,” a source revealed. “He knows his chances are slim, but he’s convinced now is his moment to reclaim the throne at Today.”

“There’s not a day that goes by when Matt doesn’t dream of returning to the show and taking over for Hoda,” a separate source added. “He still thinks he’s innocent and was unfairly convicted in the court of public opinion. He hopes that one day, others will agree with him too!”

Hoda was eventually replaced by Today news anchor Craig Melvin, who took over alongside Savannah, 53, on January 13, 2025.