Meredith Vieira Defends Matt Lauer, Says NBC ‘Blew It’

Meredith Vieira recently defended embattled Today show host Matt Lauer.

The former anchor believes the folks at NBC didn’t handle the controversy surrounding Lauer very well. Although many people believe he’s responsible for Ann Curry’s departure from the show, Vieira feels the network should shoulder some of the blame.

“Even if [NBC] blew it from a PR point of view, you’ve got to move on. I think what is happening to Matt is really wrong,” she explained to the New York Post.

As for the upcoming tell-all Top of the Morning, Vieira said she has no intention of reading the book since it deals with many of her friends. She added that she is “over it.”

“I’ve kind of been-there-done-that, and I don’t know what the interest is. I don’t want to get on a high horse, because I understand why people write it. I’m not trying to say he’s wrong to do it, but I look at it and it’s so personal to me,” she explained.

Meredith Vieira isn’t the only person associated with the Today show who has recently come to Matt Lauer’s defense. Kathie Lee Gifford recently wrote an open letter that addressed the situation surrounding the anchor and his recent troubles.

Gifford explained:

“No one seemed to be interested in the truth, and that was really frustrating for me because I have a deep sense of injustice about things. I don’t like somebody taking credit for something they had nothing to do with and I certainly don’t like somebody taking blame for something that they’re not responsible for.”

The letter continues:

“We the people of the Today show who work side by side, day by day, year in and year out with Matt Lauer are tired of unfounded and unrelenting stories by faceless characters regarding his character and reputation.”

What do you think about Meredith Vieira defending Matt Lauer? Do you feel that NBC should accept some of the blame for Ann Curry’s departure from Today?

[Image via Rena Schild / Shutterstock.com]