Couric Praises Nevils' Bravery Amid Lauer Scandal

Katie Couric has voiced her support for Brooke Nevils, commending her bravery in releasing a memoir detailing allegations against former colleague Matt Lauer. Nevils accused Lauer, her on-air partner at the Today show for nearly a decade, of sexual assault. Couric, who has read an excerpt of Nevils' book, Unspeakable Things: Silence, Shame, and the Stories We Choose to Believe, expressed her deep sympathy for Nevils.

Nevils' allegations of sexual assault stem from an incident she claims occurred during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Following Nevils' accusation and subsequent reports of other misconduct allegations against him, Lauer was fired from the Today show in November 2017. His wife of 19 years, Annette Roque, also filed for divorce around this time.

Matt Lauer has not been criminally charged. He has confirmed a sexual relationship with Nevils but vehemently denied the rape allegations, asserting that any encounters were consensual. Despite these denials, Lauer acknowledged in a 2019 letter that there was "enough truth in these stories to make me feel embarrassed and ashamed."

In response to the allegations, NBC stated that Lauer's conduct was "appalling, horrific, and reprehensible," and that the network acted swiftly upon learning of the complaint. Nevils, who sought mental health treatment after the scandal, recounted in her memoir how the aftermath of the allegations led her to a psychiatric ward before she eventually rebuilt her life.