A source claims that the former 'Today' host is 'doing everything he can right now to minimize the damage to them, he's heartbroken over what this might do to his kids.'
- Dec 6, 2017
AceShowbiz - Former "Today" co-host Matt Lauer is still reeling following his firing from the NBC show a week ago. The show let him go after the longtime TV host was accused of sexually harassing women in multiple allegations, one of which said that it occurred when he covered the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia in 2014.
"He is weak and broken and ashamed by his own admission," one of Lauer's former "Today" colleagues reveals to PEOPLE in this week's issue. The colleague says that s/he is still in disbelief that Lauer would do something like sexual harassment.
"He is my friend," the colleague speaks of the 59-year-old TV personality. "He is human, and he is flawed. But is he going to use his power to be a predator on women? Until I see solid evidence of that, I just can't believe it. We don't know the details."
Another source tells HollywoodLife.com that his scandal affects Lauer's three kids, Jack Matthew (16), Romy (14) and Thijs (11), whom he shares with his wife Annette Roque. "Matt's kids already struggle with their dad's fame, they're not comfortable with it under normal circumstances and this obviously makes it a million times worse," the source claims. "It's a huge blow for them," the source continues. "He's doing everything he can right now to minimize the damage to them, he's heartbroken over what this might do to his kids."
As for Roque, who reportedly has been living separately from Lauer for years, she's said to be super "worried" about how the kids took the shocking news about his dad. "She's embarrassed, she's hurt," the source shared. However, the former Victoria's Secret and J. Crew model didn't pull herself and her three kids out of Lauer's life entirely just yet. Lauer was snapped driving his youngest child Thijs to school in Hamptons on Monday, December 4.
Previous report suggested that Roque filed for divorce from Lauer back in 2006 following his alleged affair with "Today" show correspondent Natalie Moralers when the two were assigned for the Winter Olympics in Tulin, Italy. Words were Lauer offered Roque a post-nuptial agreement, which allowed her to get $5 million if she called off the divorce. It seemed like the former model accepted the deal as she withdrew the divorce three weeks later, claiming that they had reconciled.
In addition, it was said that the couple has been living separately for the last decade. Sources told the site that Roque stays at the couple's properties in ritzy Sag Harbor, Long Island, while Lauer remains in their Park Avenue apartment during the week.
NBC terminated Lauer's contract after a female employee met with NBC News' human resource last week. She allegedly accused Lauer of inviting her to his hotel room late at night while covering the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia in 2014.
