NBC fires Matt Lauer for 'inappropriate sexual behavior'

NBC News has fired longtime Today show host Matt Lauer for "inappropriate sexual behavior," making him the second morning television show personality to lose his job because of sexual misconduct charges in a week.

Lauer's co-host Savannah Guthrie made the announcement at the top of Wednesday's Today show. Last week, CBS News fired Charlie Rose after complaints from several women who worked for him.

NBC News Chairman Andrew Lack said the network had received a complaint from a colleague on Monday night, and a review determined it was a clear violation of company standards. 

While it was the first complaint lodged against Lauer, Lack said in a memo to staff that "we were also presented with reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident."

On Twitter on Wednesday, President Donald Trump said "Wow, Matt Lauer was just fired from NBC for 'inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace.' But when will the top executives at NBC & Comcast be fired for putting out so much Fake News."

Today TV show

Lauer, 59, has hosted Today for two decades. When paired with Katie Couric, Today was the longtime ratings leader and was highly lucrative for NBC. It now runs second in the ratings to ABC's Good Morning America.

Many Today show viewers took out their anger for the unsightly firing of co-host Ann Curry on Lauer, sending the show plunging in the ratings. 

But NBC stuck with Lauer and the show had steadied with his pairing with Guthrie. The show runs for four hours, with Lauer and Guthrie hosting the first two.

He joins a lengthening list of media figures felled by sexual misconduct charges this year. 

Besides Rose, they include Lauer's former NBC News colleague Mark Halperin, former Fox News prime-time host Bill O'Reilly and National Public Radio newsroom chief Michael Oreskes. 

The New York Times suspended White House correspondent Glenn Thrush last week.

Lack, in his memo, said that "we are deeply saddened by this turn of events. But we will face it together as a news organisation – and do it in as transparent a manner as we can."

"This is a sad day for us at the Today show and NBC News," Guthrie said when she later repeated the news on the air.

Radio host Garrison Keillor fired over 'inappropriate' behavior

US radio personality Garrison Keillor has been fired over allegations of "inappropriate behavior," his employer said Wednesday.

Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) did not detail the allegations, but said it learned of them last month and they related to conduct with a co-worker while Keillor was host of the long-running program "A Prairie Home Companion." 

The 75-year-old retired from the popular weekly music and comedy show last year. 

MPR said it terminated contracts with Keillor and his private media companies, through which it was broadcasting "Best of" reruns of Keillor's hosted program and other features. 

"MPR retained an outside law firm to conduct an independent investigation of the allegations. Based on what we currently know, there are no similar allegations involving other staff," the network said in a statement. 

The company also plans to change the name of "A Prairie Home Companion," which is now hosted by Chris Thile. 

Keillor did not immediately return a request for comment. 

Broadcast since 1974 and recorded in front of a live audience, "A Prairie Home Companion" grew to become one of the most recognizable programs in American public broadcasting. 

It is heard by 2.6 million listeners on almost 600 public radio stations in the US, according to the program's website.