Katie Couric Finally Opens Up on Sexual Misconduct Claims Against Matt Lauer

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At the end of November, Matt Lauer was fired from the Today show after claims of sexual misconduct were made against him. The 60-year-old TV personality had been co-host of the popular show for more than 20 years, for many of which he worked alongside Katie Couric.

Couric initially chose to remain quiet about the situation, writing on social media in December that "I will say something when I'm ready to." Almost two months later, Couric is breaking her silence, finally opening up about the "distressing and disorienting" claims against her longtime co-host and friend.

“The whole thing has been very painful for me,” Couric told People. “The accounts I’ve read and heard have been disturbing, distressing and disorienting, and it’s completely unacceptable that any woman at the Today show experienced this kind of treatment."

“I had no idea this was going on during my tenure or after I left,” she continued. “I think I speak for many of my former colleagues when I say this was not the Matt we knew. Matt was a kind and generous colleague who treated me with respect. In fact, a joke I once made on late-night television was just that, because it was completely contrary to our brother-sister relationship. It’s still very upsetting. I really admire the way Savannah [Guthrie] and Hoda [Kotb] and the entire Today show staff have handled a very difficult situation.”

Couric has previously talked about her close platonic relationship with Lauer, and it seems the allegations against him came as a shock.