As If We Needed A Reminder, Don’t Be Like Matt Lauer

Matt Lauer is back in the news. Not that we needed him, we already have a lot on our plate in 2020, with a coronavirus pandemic, a reeling economy and escalating political divisions. But the former NBC Today host is back in the national conversation, trending on Twitter, and sparking renewed debate about what he did do, what he didn’t do, and what he says he is sorry for doing.

But most of all, he is once again reminding us that he is one of the ultimate cautionary tales of the #MeToo era.

This time Lauer is in the news because of a lengthy column he published in Mediate on Tuesday attacking the reporting of Pulitzer-winning investigative journalist and author Ronan Farrow. Farrow, the author of the 2019 book “Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators” was the subject of a weekend New York Times Sunday column by Ben Smith titled “Is Ronan Farrow Too Good To Be True?” that questioned some of Farrow’s reporting practices. Obviously sensing an opening, Lauer piled on his criticism in the Mediate column headlined, “Why Ronan Farrow is Indeed Too Good To be True” which he stated he planned to originally release in November 2019.

In his column, Lauer, who was terminated by NBC in 2017 amidst sexual misconduct allegations, goes to great lengths to explain why he believes Farrow’s reporting falls short of journalistic standards. In particular, Lauer accused Farrow of failing to appropriately fact-check the allegations Farrow shared in his book, particularly accusations that Lauer assaulted and raped Brooke Nevils while whey were colleagues at NBC. Lauer has vigorously denied those accusations, and takes great umbrage at Farrow’s reporting.

“What I found when I read the book was frankly shocking, and it should concern anyone who cares about journalism. Lauer wrote. “It’s about whether, as journalists, we have a responsibility to check facts and vet sources. It’s about understanding the difference between journalism and activism. It is about whether we are putting far too much trust in journalists whose publicly stated opinions impact their ability to remain objective.

Late Tuesday, Farrow responded to Lauer’s accusation, tweeting: “All I’ll say on this is that Matt Lauer is just wrong. Catch and Kill was thoroughly reported and fact-checked, including with Matt Lauer himself.”

Based on his admitted past actions, Matt Lauer’s clearly nobody’s top role model. But by stepping back into the public spotlight, he is once again a cautionary tale.

Lauer starts his Mediate column by acknowledging his inappropriate relationship with a fellow employee, and goes on to write “I say these words with sincerity and humility. I am sorry for the way I conducted myself. I made some terrible decisions, and I betrayed the trust of many people.”

There is no doubt that Matt Lauer feels wrongly accused for actions he denies. And it is also obvious that he is indignant about the way Farrow not only wrote about the accusations, but the way Farrow’s book’s publicity shed even more light on Lauer. But for someone who is professing sincerity and humility, Lauer’s column comes off as someone who has righteousness and credibility on his side.

Of which Lauer, regrettably has neither.

Which is why Lauer’s obliviousness to the value he adds to the Smith/Farrow conversation is a troubling reminder of what caused Lauer to fall from grace in the first place. True humility would be to recognize that while he might have a judgement on Farrow’s reporting, that perspective will always be colored not by objectivity but by fiercely personal perspective grounded in denial and resentment. Matt Lauer is in no position to critique journalistic credibility, yet he arrogantly thinks he does. And at the same time, by insensitively reintroducing himself in the national conversation, he reminds those he victimized, and all of us, what the #MeToo movement is truly about – arrogance and abuse by those who have power

Which is why Matt Lauer continues to be a textbook case of what leaders, or public figures of any level, should not do. Sometimes, as the saying goes, it is best to let sleeping dogs lie. Matt Lauer believed he was stepping up and contributing to a journalistic pile-on on a leading investigative reporter of our time. 

What he did instead is reminded us not to be like Matt Lauer.

Again.