The drama about the TV industry, more so about famous people, is Savannah Guthrie and Matt Lauer. There are a lot of fans who ask whether they were this close as they were on TV while hosting the NBC Today program together. However, their relationship did indeed change after Lauer’s termination in 2017 because of allegations of improper sexual behavior. Many would like to know if they indeed had stayed friends after this development.
The Glory Days of Guthrie and Lauer
Prior to the aftermath, Savannah Guthrie and Matt Lauer were a powerful pair. Guthrie became a part of the Today show in 2012, and the duo soon became a regular presence in numerous homes. Their connection was unmistakable, and they were the type of duo that appeared to truly relish collaborating. Guthrie often mentioned Lauer as a mentor, while Lauer praised Guthrie for her clever mind and fast humor.
For many years, they were the main presenters of morning TV, covering a variety of subjects from entertaining celebrity chats to important breaking news with a mix of professionalism and charm. To those outside of their circle, the two didn’t just work together. They seemed to have a genuine friendship, exchanging laughter, playful teasing, and sometimes even sharing bits of their personal stories.
The Scandal That Changed Everything
All was changed for everything in November 2017.
NBC announced the sacking of Matt Lauer’s career over the controversy of sexual misconduct accusations against him. The business community has been shocked, while most audiences remain in denial as well. Savannah Guthrie and her colleague Hoda Kotb, visibly moved spoke to the audience directly.
It was apparent that she was trying to reconcile supporting her friend with condemning behavior that resulted in his termination. She referred to the allegations as “shocking and appalling,” but in not sharing much of what she was thinking about Lauer, her voice alone said everything about how tough this must be.
Did The Termination Effect Their Friendship?
The personal effects of Lauer’s termination also went beyond a professional evaluation. During interviews that surfaced after the scandal, Guthrie confessed to mixed feelings. Guthrie stated in a September 2018 interview she had “kept in touch” with Lauer using text messages.
I texted him and said I was heartbroken for him and his family,” she shared. “I really felt like a heartbroken friend.
However, she also stated that they hadn’t met in person since his departure from the network. With time, reports began to emerge indicating that their relationship had cooled. Sources close to Guthrie reported in 2020 that she had “completely ended her friendship” with Lauer and was not interested in keeping in touch.
Lauer, according to some, felt “betrayed” by Guthrie’s reaction to the allegations. He thought it unnecessary for her to speak publicly against him and her need to distance herself; such actions only added tension to their relationship.
Did Savannah Guthrie ever publicly defend Matt Lauer after his firing?
No, Savannah Guthrie did not come out to defend Matt Lauer. Although she spoke about being sad and heartbroken over the situation, she also called the allegations “shocking and appalling” and said she was with NBC on its decision to terminate him. Her words and actions were a balancing act between showing compassion for a former colleague and standing by accountability.
Reunions and Public Sightings
In the last few years, Savannah Guthrie and Matt Lauer have crossed paths, but not very often. In December 2023, both attended Jennifer Long’s wedding, a producer for the Today show. Their interactions were reportedly friendly and cordial, which raised speculation about their relationship.
But that wasn’t the first or last time Lauer was in the news for making rare public appearances. In fact, earlier in 2024, he was seen attending Don Lemon’s wedding with his girlfriend, Shamin Abas. The wedding itself had nothing to do with Guthrie, but Lauer felt that he was “owed an apology” over the way his firing and its aftermath were handled.
These peeks into Lauer’s life after Today suggest that the scandal is always looming, interfering with how he can navigate the personal and professional spheres of his life.
Can one’s friendships survive the scandal?
It makes one raise this bigger question: Can friends survive a scandal? Tough call, all things, especially where such grave accusations are raised. Savannah Guthrie talked about having a tough time reconciling the sense of friendship and what happened to Matt Lauer.
In many ways, they do reflect the predicaments thousands of people experience when someone they are close to is accused of doing wrong. Do you stand with them? Or do you back off? Guthrie seems to be one who backed off for the sake of maintaining her values and public posture before the relationship.
Where do they stand now?
So where do Savannah Guthrie and Matt Lauer stand today? As much as they appear at public functions and through various reports, they are by no stretch of the imagination the close friends that they used to be. In fact, it would be more accurate to say she has built an even closer relationship with Hoda Kotb of The Today show than any to repair old ties.
For the most part, Lauer is living quietly out of the public view. He has attended such occasional events as the 2023 wedding but is keeping quite a low profile these days. He might still resent the fact that he did have a strained relationship with Guthrie, but neither of the two seems to be pushing for reconciliation.
The Key Takeaways
Savannah Guthrie and Matt Lauer developed a professional friendship that was put to the test in a way that few popular professional friendships often are, and it is clearly evident the impact of Lauer’s dismissal still stands.
While they are no longer close, their story reminds us of the difficulty of crossing personal and professional boundaries, especially in the wake of controversy. For fans of the Today show, the dynamic between Guthrie and Lauer will always be a memorable chapter in morning TV history that’s equal parts heartwarming and bittersweet.
In the end, whether they are friends or not is less of a question about labels and more about where they have chosen to focus their energies. In Savannah Guthrie’s case, it seems, it is forward—not backward.
