The removal of Ann Curry from Today was dubbed “Operation Bambi” by the show’s producers. She was also “tortured” by staffers behind-the-scenes before she parted ways with the program.
Quite a few details about the host’s firing from the popular morning news program are being brought to light courtesy of New York Times reporter Brian Stelter’s book Top of the Morning .
The plot to fire Curry was dubbed “Operation Bambi” since some of the producers thought getting rid of her would be the same as killing the iconic Disney character.
“Curry felt that the boys’ club atmosphere behind the scenes at ‘Today’ undermined her from the start, and she told friends that her final months were a form of professional torture,” Stelter wrote in the book.
The “professional torture” Curry described allegedly came in the form of cruel jokes and pranks at her expense. A yellow dress worn by the host was referred to as “Big Bird” by Today staff.
Several workers are said to have moved Ann Curry’s belongings to a closet to make it appear as though she had already been fired by producers. An insider told Stelter that a blooper reel was made from the mistakes she made on-air and passed around.
The source added that “a lot of time in the control room was spent making fun of Ann’s outfit choices or just generally messing with her.”
Although news regarding Ann Curry and “Operation Bambi” are sure to cause quite a few headaches for people the people working behind-the-scenes at Today , the show isn’t quite ready to make an official statement on the matter.
“We are focused on covering several major news stories this week and producing the best show we can for our viewers, not on year-old gossip,” a rep show told The Huffington Post .
Brian Stelter’s Top of the Morning will hit shelves on April 23.
Are you a fan of Ann Curry? What do you think about “Operation Bambi” and the torture she received prior to leaving Today ?
[Top Image via Rena Schild / Shutterstock.com Bottom Image via – Rena Schild / Shutterstock.com ]