The Inappropriate On-Air Comment Matt Lauer Once Made To Sandra Bullock
In November 2017, longtime news anchor Matt Lauer was fired from "Today." According to CNBC, a memo by NBC News stated, "On Monday night, we received a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace by Matt Lauer. It represented, after serious review, a clear violation of our company's standards." While the memo stated this was the first time anyone complained about Lauer, the network had reason to suspect that there were other instances of misconduct. In light of his firing, Variety revealed how numerous women came forward about being sexually harassed by Lauer.
After more than 20 years on-air, viewers collectively gasped at the reveal of Lauer's sketchy double life. However, he had been known to make lewd comments before his firing, including to former co-anchor Merideth Vieira. In an off-air video shared by TMZ, he told her, "Pretty sweater. Keep bending over like that. It's a nice view." Although Lauer and Vieira were initially close friends, she later told People, it "was like a gut punch" to find out about Lauer's firing. Following his controversial departure, past footage resurfaced that displayed Lauer's on-air vulgarity. One of these videos featured actor Sandra Bullock, who was once on the receiving end of Lauer's inappropriate comments.
Matt Lauer commented on Sandra Bullock's on-screen nudity
In 2009, Sandra Bullock went on "Today" to promote her film "The Proposal." But Matt Lauer didn't exactly give the actor a warm welcome. He inappropriately remarked, "The major thing that's changed since you were here last — I have now seen you naked." Bullock replied, "And I am so sorry about that. Were you able to sleep afterwards?" Lauer seemingly joked that it was now his screensaver and didn't let up with comments about Bullock's nudity for the rest of the conversation. Ultimately, he said, "Come back more often," to which Bullock half-jokingly responded, "No. Not after this interview."
Then, in 2017, Bullock commented on Lauer's sexual misconduct allegations. An insider told HollywoodLife, "Sandra feels horrible for the women Matt may have victimized. She has known Matt for years and she is shocked about the allegations." The insider also described Bullock's feelings toward Lauer and his victims, saying, "While she does not harbor any anger towards Matt on a personal level, her heart does go out to the women he may have harassed over the years." In addition, the source revealed how Bullock was addressing these issues on a wider scale, saying, "She is dedicated to being an advocate for the rights of not only the women hurt by Matt but for all women who have been taken advantage of in Hollywood and everywhere in the world."
Sandra Bullock wasn't the only actor Matt Lauer targeted
During his time on "Today," Matt Lauer had a pattern of making inappropriate comments during interviews. For instance, in December 2012, Anne Hathaway had her picture taken at the wrong moment. As she exited a limo for the New York premiere of her film "Les Misérables," she accidentally flashed from down under, per Refinery29. Following the unfortunate situation, Hathaway appeared on "Today," where Lauer brought up the exploitative incident.
Lauer asked, "What's the lesson learned from something like that?" Hathaway, who acted as poised as ever, addressed his lack of awareness, responding, "It kind of made me sad on two accounts. One was that I was very sad that we live in an age when someone takes a picture of another person in a vulnerable moment and rather than delete it and do the decent thing, someone sells it." Hathaway also explained how the incident fits in a larger context, saying, "And I'm sorry that we live in a culture that commodifies sexuality of unwilling participants." Between Lauer's incessant remarks about Sandra Bullock's on-screen nudity and his ignorant question about Hathaway's photo incident, he surely had a record of being creepily crude on-air.