After Wednesday morning's shocking firing of "Today" co-anchor Matt Lauer, reporters at Variety released a long-in-the-works exclusive story about the allegations of sexual harassment. And holy moly, are there some shocking claims in the piece. Lauer is accused of exposing himself to women, gifting a colleague a sex toy, and would pressure his colleagues into sexual situations on work trips. It's pretty horrifying stuff, and then there's this:
This tidbit about Matt Lauer having a button under his desk to lock the door is straight super villain shit pic.twitter.com/tz3jPrsSOt
— Isaac (@WorldofIsaac) November 29, 2017
Wait, sorry, what was that? (Emphasis added.)
Lauer, who was paranoid about being followed by tabloid reporters, grew more emboldened at 30 Rockefeller Center as his profile rose following Katie Couric’s departure from “Today” in 2006. His office was in a secluded space, and he had a button under his desk that allowed him to lock his door from the inside without getting up. This afforded him the assurance of privacy. It allowed him to welcome female employees and initiate inappropriate contact while knowing nobody could walk in on him, according to two women who were sexually harassed by Lauer.
Oh, okay. Okay. Okay. That seems normal and not at all sketchy.
Pretty much everyone had the same reaction:
WTF: "His office was in a secluded space, and he had a button under his desk that allowed him to lock his door from the inside without getting up." https://t.co/UJLilA2DZi via @variety
— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) November 29, 2017
How did this conversation with building management go?
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) November 29, 2017
"I need you to install a button under my desk so I can lock the door after somebody enters my office."
"Oh right away, Mr. Lauer. That's not creepy as hell, you weirdo freak."
So Matt Lauer was basically running a sex dungeon at the push of a button pic.twitter.com/TYJd0eTFz4
— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) November 29, 2017
“I want a button at my desk. One that can lock the door.”
— Matt Viser (@mviser) November 29, 2017
“Why, Matt?”
“Well, you just never know. You can never be too safe.”
“That seems weird, Matt.”
“I just want to make sure I’m protected.”
“Whatever you want, Matt. The workers will come install it tomorrow.”
“Thanks!"
nbc guy 1: hey matt wants a button at his desk to let him lock his office door without having to get up and make clear he’s locking the door
— brian feldman (Michael Clayton is on Netflix) (@bafeldman) November 29, 2017
nbc guy 2: normal. let’s get him one of those asap
MAINTENANCE MAN: Hi, I’m here to install the Bond villain style secret door locking button
— Patrick Monahan (@pattymo) November 29, 2017
LAUER: Ah yes, come in https://t.co/5vwOsYSSy7 pic.twitter.com/3k3jD3qBnx
Gross.
