NBC News boss: There was no Matt Lauer cover-up -- Ronan Farrow's book paints "a fundamentally untrue picture"

The Hollywood Reporter

Farrow's new book Catch and Kill makes a case that NBC News and its practices around harassment complaints and settlements were part of a broader culture of cover-up and protection for wealthy and powerful predators. It also details alleged conversations NBC News chairman Andy Lack had with Harvey Weinstein. In a memo to NBC News staff, Lack pushed back at Farrow's suggestion that Weinstein killed Farrow's NBC News reporting on him by threatening to expose Lauer's sexual misconduct. Lack again insisted he first learned of Lauer's sexual misconduct within 24 hours before the former Today co-anchor was fired in November 2017. "As you know, our news organization is filled with dedicated, professional journalists, including some of the best and most experienced investigative reporters, as well as others who support our reporting with exceptional talent, integrity and decency," Lack wrote to NBC News colleagues on Wednesday afternoon in a memo obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. "It disappoints me to say that even with passage of time, Farrow’s account has become neither more accurate, nor more respectful of the dedicated colleagues he worked with here at NBC News. He uses a variety of tactics to paint a fundamentally untrue picture."