Katie Couric & Savannah Guthrie Share Awkward Moment On 'Today' While Discussing Matt Lauer, Power Dynamics
Tension behind the scenes? Things got awkward when Katie Couric returned to Today to promote her new book, Going There.
The 64-year-old sat down with Savannah Guthrie on Tuesday, October 19, and opened up about Matt Lauer, who the Katie Couric Media founder worked alongside for nine years.
Admitting the scandal — in which Lauer was accused of sexual harassment by multiple women — “was really, really hard,” Couric said, “It took me a long time to process what was going on, because the side of Matt I knew was the man I think you all knew: He was kind and generous and considerate, a good colleague.”
However, Couric confessed she was appalled when she learned the extent of Lauer’s behavior. “As I got more information and learned what was going on behind the scenes, it was really upsetting and disturbing,” she admitted. “And then I did some of my own reporting, I talked to people, I really tried to excavate what had been going on. It was really devastating, but also disgusting.”
“What I realized is there was the side of Matt I never really knew,” Couric confessed. “And I tried to understand why he behaved the way he did, and why he was so reckless and callous and honestly abusive to other women.”
Guthrie, 49, then asked Couric if there were things that stood out to her while looking back and writing her book. After pointing out "it was very permissive environment in the ‘90s," the mom-of-two noted: "I think back then, it was you sort of felt like, it wasn’t your business and nobody ever came to me to talk to me about it."
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"And I think our notion what a consensual relationship has changed dramatically and you have to consider the power dynamics — I’m sure you’ve learned a lot about this too,” Couric offered. However, Guthrie side-stepped Couric's statement before moving on to ask where the Best Advice I Ever Got author and Lauer stand today. Glancing offscreen quickly, Couric insisted, “We have no relationship.”
As OK! previously reported, Guthrie had been chomping at the bit to interview Couric face-to-face about her tell-all. “Katie still thinks she’s the boss at the show,” a source told Radar ahead of her appearance. "She has been working with producers to make sure her book segment next week goes exactly how she wants it to go, however, Savannah isn’t interested in what Katie wants and instead is preparing to ask all the hard questions."
“This is Savannah’s chance to slay the dragon. The legend of Katie has been hanging over Savannah since the day she got the job as host of the show,” the insider continued of the show's ten-year vet. “This is her moment, to prove that The Today Show is now 100% hers and not Katie's.”
Couric has been making the rounds while promoting her tell-all, in which she takes shots at Prince Harry, Martha Stewart and Diane Sawyer, to name a few.
Meanwhile, Couric's former colleague Ashleigh Banfield recently spoke out following the Katie alum backtracking after reportedly detailing how she attempted to derail Banfield's career in Going There.
"Clearly, we have different recollections of what transpired," Banfield — who is rumored to be considering taking legal action — told Daily Mail. "All I can say is that when you're on the receiving end of this kind of behavior, your memories and timetables become crystalized, since it was a very challenging time for me, personally and professionally."
