Former Today show anchor Ann Curry is speaking out about sexual harassment in the workplace in the wake of NBC News’ firing of Matt Lauer over “inappropriate sexual behavior.”
In a prescheduled interview with People shortly after the news broke, Curry stressed the need to make workplaces “safe” for women amid the wave of harassment and assault allegations plaguing Hollywood and the media.
“The women’s movement got us into the workplace, but it didn’t make us safe once we got there. And the battle lines are now clear. We need to move this revolution forward and make our workplaces safe,” she said. “Corporate America is quite clearly failing to do so, and unless it does something to change that, we need to keep doing more ourselves.”
On news of Lauer’s termination at NBC News, which was made public Wednesday morning, Curry added that she is “still really processing it.” Lauer’s firing came after a complaint from a colleague at NBC News detailed sexual misconduct in the workplace.
Curry’s muddled history with Lauer dates back to 2011, when she first signed on to co-host the Today show. In published reports by The New York Times and New York magazine, Lauer was speculated to have played a role in her sudden exit one year later.
“I admire the women who have been willing to speak up both anonymously and on the record. Those women need to keep their jobs, and all women need to be able to work, to be able to thrive, without fear,” Curry said. “This kind of behavior exists across industries, and it is so long overdue for it to stop. This is a moment when we all need to be a beacon of light for those women, for all women, and for ourselves.”
