Megyn Kelly branded disgraced former “Today” host — and her ex-NBC colleague — Matt Lauer a “sexual predator” as she demanded an urgent, independent investigation into the rape and sexual harassment allegations against him, and whether NBC tried to cover them up by killing stories on disgraced Hollywood perv Harvey Weinstein.
In her fiery first TV appearance since her NBC talk show was canceled a year ago, Kelly told Fox News that NBC “covered up for one sexual predator, Harvey Weinstein, in order to protect another: Matt Lauer.”
She was reacting to allegations in Ronan Farrow’s new book “Catch and Kill” that NBC killed Farrow’s exposé on Weinstein because the movie mogul knew Lauer had skeletons in his closet.
“NBC has put out several statements saying that Ronan is a conspiracy theorist and this is all nonsense and he’s got an ax to grind. But if that’s true and there’s nothing to hide, then get an outside investigator,” she said.
Kelly stressed on Tucker Carlson’s Wednesday night show that the women offered payoffs and non-disclosure agreements by NBC execs after alleged harassment at the hands of Lauer should be freed from their NDAs to speak to outside investigators. Lauer denies rape and contends all the encounters were consensual.
She also claimed there’s a “legal sleight-of-hand” that NBC could have used to hide accuser-silencing settlements by calling it “enhanced severance.”
An internal investigation into Lauer’s conduct conducted by NBC’s own lawyers cleared NBC News brass of any wrongdoing.
“There needs to be an outside investigation into this company [NBC]. They investigated themselves. That doesn’t work. Fox did an outside investigation, CBS did an outside investigation,” Kelly said, referring to a 2016 probe into Fox News chief Roger Ailes — who she accused of sexual abuse — and a 2018 probe into CBS chairman Les Moonves that led to their ousters.
Kelly contends NBC News executives may be guilty of protecting once-powerful Lauer ahead of his victims.
“The question is open as to whether they put dollars ahead of decency, about whether they were more interested in protecting their star anchor than they were in protecting the women of the company,” she said.
“The number one thing that needs to happen right now is they need to release any and all Matt Lauer accusers from their confidentiality agreements. Let’s not hide anything. Show us all of the agreements. NBC hasn’t gotten specific about what they paid. Show us the agreements.”
Kelly also questioned how NBC News’ execs could claim they didn’t know anything about Lauer’s alleged sexual conduct before an official complaint was made in 2017 from staffer Brooke Nevils who alleged Lauer anally raped her at the Sochi Olympics. Lauer, who was fired in 2017, denies raping Nevils.
This week Kelly first broke her silence to Page Six about the allegations against Lauer.
“Let’s not lose sight of the forces for good in this story, like former Lauer co-host Ann Curry, who, despite the risks, sounded the alarm on Lauer in 2012 after a young woman complained to her, and Meredith Vieira, who, when confronted with Brooke Nevils’ account, told her to go report it,” she told us.
This was Kelly’s first return to Fox News since her departure from the news network in 2017 for NBC. She then left NBC last year with a $30 million payout amid drama over her show and controversial comments regarding blackface. At the time Page Six reported Kelly was reluctant to sign a non-disclosure agreement preventing her from discussing her treatment at NBC. It is believed she did sign an NDA in the end.
NBC did not immediately respond to requests for comment about Kelly’s interview.
For more on the Matt Lauer scandal, listen to this episode of the Page Six podcast, “We Hear”: