Giada de Laurentiis appears on the "Today" show alongside Al Roker in June 2017; photo, left. Matt Lauer, above, right, may have cost her the gig. (NBC)
Has Matt Lauer cost Giada de Laurentiis her “Today” gig?
According to the New York Post, NBC is getting rid of everyone who is close with Lauer, putting the celebrity chef on the chopping block.
The Food Network star has long been pals with the now-disgraced former “Today” anchor, and the two were spotted in 2011 spending time together on a beach in Barbados. In 2013, they had dinner together in New York City. Their friendship has caused speculation they were an item, but they have denied their relationship was more than a friendship.
The Post reports “Today” wants to cut ties with De Laurentiis now that Lauer has been fired, part of a purge of Lauer favorites following the firing of the powerful anchor for alleged inappropriate sexual conduct.
“Matt always had the final say on show experts, but now they want new blood. They want more diversity,” a source told the newspaper.
But a rep for De Laurentiis insisted there was no truth to that claim. Still, the rep admitted the star doesn’t have any confirmed upcoming appearances on the morning show.
“Giada will still be making her appearances on ‘Today’ and we are currently working on her schedule to confirm,” the rep told The Post, which pointed out that De Laurentiis had not been on “Today” for some time.
NBC is clearly trying to rid the “Today” show of any last remnants of Lauer. On Tuesday, the same day Ann Curry claimed there was a culture of harassment at “Today,” the show attempted to quietly announce the departure of longtime Executive Producer Don Nash.
A memo sent to staff stated Nash had chosen to step down to spend more time with his family. However, a Florida NBC affiliate reported that the internal memo was “met with skepticism inside and outside NBC, given the network's firing of 'Today' co-host Matt Lauer last November.”
Nash will be replaced by Libbie Leist, a career NBC producer who “Today” expert and CNN media reporter Brian Stelter described as a “close friend” of “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie.
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Untouched in the shakeup are NBC News’ two top executives, Andy Lack and Noah Oppenheim, who have been fending off calls for an independent investigation to look into their ties to Lauer and whether they looked away from or encouraged sexual harassment at NBC News. Both executives were close with Lauer, with Vanity Fair reporting that Lauer and Lack had even vacationed together. For his part, Oppenheim – who moonlights as a Hollywood screenwriter -- has had managerial roles at “Today” for years and insiders say he gave no attention to the show’s internal culture.
Andrew Lack, NBC's President and Chief Operating Officer, answers questions from reporters during NBC's Summer Press Tour July 20, 2001, in Pasadena, California. AL/JP - RP2DRINKOOAA
NBC insiders said the purging of Lauer allies -- such as Nash, De Laurentiis and others -- was an obvious effort by Lack and Oppenheim to save their own jobs.
“These failures were not Don Nash's but his bosses' who run NBC News,” journalism icon Porter Bib told Fox News.
Fox News’ Brian Flood contributed to this report.
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