Matt Lauer: Yeah, I'm fired for sexual misconduct. Now give me $30M in severance!

[True Dough]

Lawyers representing former NBC host Matt Lauer are reportedly seeking to get the longtime anchor upwards of $30 million after he was fired this week over allegations of sexual misconduct.

Page Six reports that Lauer's team is seeking for NBC to pay the host for the remainder of his $20 million per year contract, which still had a year and a half left before he was fired.

“They are currently looking at his contract and determining whether the claims against him, which clearly would affect any moral clause in his contract and his ensuing termination would cut off his contractual rights to be paid through to the end of his contract," a source close to Lauer's team told the outlet.

Morality clauses are often added to contracts allowing companies to fire employees for publicly embarrassing situations that damage the company's image.

http://thehill.com/homenews/media/362702-lauer-seeking-30-million-after-firing-report

[TexasTowelie]

1. Lauer will end up getting a few million

as a nuisance settlement of any lawsuit. He doesn't deserve any of it though and hopefully every penny that he extracts in settlement from NBC will be paid to the women he harassed.

[Pachamama]

2. They should let Lauer know that the $30 Million will be distributed to the women he assaulted

What an entitled asshole he is...

[True Dough]

4. That would be much more fitting

and he should have suggested it. For a guy who claimed today that he was going to start rebuilding the public's trust in him (fat chance), that would have been at least a step in the right direction. But he messed up, again. Lost cause.

[msongs]

3. what did he ever do that was worth one mil never mind 20 mil? read prompters? nt

[Lee-Lee]

14. Draw viewers

It’s all about the money. The money comes from selling ads. The more viewers you have the more ads you can sell and the more you get paid for them.

[murielm99]

5. I think he will end up flat broke.

All those women will sue his behind off.

[fescuerescue]

6. Possible. But unlikely

Generally speaking, people like this are flushed out of the public eye, lose millions of dollars, but walk away with millions and never have to work another day in their lives.

OJ, Bill Cosby are two examples that come to mind. Both pariahs, but still a very comfortable 0.1%'er and not lifting a finger.

[vsrazdem]

7. Good luck with that.

I am sure they had a big sit down with a room full of lawyers before they ever told him he was fired.

[TrollBuster9090]

8. Getting FIRED for gross misconduct, and not getting paid millions in severance is only for us plebs.

If you're a patrician, getting fired from your job for gross misconduct means you will continue to get paid, WITHOUT actually having to show up at work anymore.

And a $30 million payout to sever your contract would be pretty standard in this business. That's exactly what Roger "Baron Harkonnen" Ailes, and Bill "The Beast" O'Reilley got.

[BigmanPigman]

11. That is what immediately came to my mind too.

I hope he goes to prison...have charges been filed?

[TrollBuster9090]

12. Not that I know of. nt

[DFW]

9. Lauer has been embarrassing NBC's image for many years

It's just that enough Republicans have been supporting "their" man from the Today Show that the network has been happy to close their eyes to his off-camera antics until now. IOKIYAR does not apply if monetary damages occur. Republican morality dictates: Harass, grope, rape to your heart's delight, but only as long as it doesn't cost us a cent.

[PJMcK]

10. This is rich

Morality clauses are often added to contracts allowing companies to fire employees for publicly embarrassing situations that damage the company's image.

NBC damaged their own image years ago. Lauer's misbehavior is the least of NBC's problems.

[RandiFan1290]

13. He helped them get their boy elected

He wants his bonus!

[no_hypocrisy]

15. Most entertainment contracts have a "morals clause" that markedly reduce

or eliminate any severance in the contract. This dates back to Fatty Arbuckle being accused of rape in 1921. Studios and networks have used them to protect against financial loss due to "talent" impropriety.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morals_clause

I'm guessing that Lauer's contract had one as well.

[Nevernose]

16. Heres the bright side:

That woman who was locked in? The one who woke up naked on the floor? The one who Lauer’s assistant had to take to the NBC nurse?

Now she (and the rest of them) know EXACTLY how much to sue his ass for.

[True Dough]

17. And I hope she gets every cent of it! n/t