Matt Lauer’s former “Today” show colleague Ann Curry is showing support for Brooke Nevils and her upcoming memoir, “Unspeakable Things.”
Curry called Nevils, whose sexual assault allegations against Lauer led to his 2017 firing, “brave” while speaking to People on Thursday.
She gushed, “I remember Brooke as good-hearted and credible, with great potential.”
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Ann Curry (pictured above in May 2012) is backing Matt Lauer’s accuser Brooke Nevils ahead of her memoir release. NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
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Curry (pictured above in October 2011) labeled Nevils “brave.” FilmMagic
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Nevils was working as an NBC talent assistant at the 2014 Sochi Olympics when Lauer allegedly raped her.
In an excerpt of her book, out Feb. 3, she described the allegedly “humiliating” experience — as well as “more instances” that followed upon her return to New York City.
Nevils branded Lauer, who has denied their encounters were anything but “mutual and completely consensual,” a “monster.”
When she first revealed the alleged rape in Ronan Farrow’s “Catch and Kill” book in 2019, Curry backed Nevils.
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She told People that Nevils (pictured above in October 2019) is “good-hearted and credible, with great potential.” Splash News / SplashNews.com
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Nevils (pictured above in October 2019) describes Lauer allegedly raping her in 2014 in her upcoming memoir, “Unspeakable Things.” Arellano, Juan
“Brooke Nevils is a credible young woman of good character,” she wrote via X at the time. “She came to NBC News an eager and guileless 20-something, brimming with talent.
“I believe she is telling the truth,” Curry continued. “And that breaks my heart.”
At the time, NBC also released a statement, reading, “Matt Lauer’s conduct was appalling, horrific and reprehensible, as we said at the time. That’s why he was fired within 24 hours of us first learning of the complaint. Our hearts break again for our colleague.”
Additionally, Curry spoke out against Lauer five months after he was ousted from NBC, and more women came forward.
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When Nevils first detailed the alleged rape in 2019, Curry (pictured above in January 2012) supported her. Getty Images
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After allegations against Lauer surfaced in 2017, Curry (pictured above in June 2005) said she had previously advised the network to “keep an eye on him.” FilmMagic
She claimed to the Washington Post that, in 2012, “a woman approached” and “tearfully” asked for her help because she had allegedly been “sexually harassed physically” by Lauer and “was afraid of losing her job.”
In the April 2018 interview, Curry explained, “I told management they had a problem and they needed to keep an eye on him and how he deals with women.”
Lauer was fired in November 2017.
By that point, Curry was no longer at NBC, which she left in 2015 after 25 years.
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She had already left NBC by the time Lauer (pictured above in April 2014) was fired. Getty Images
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At the time, Nevils (pictured above in October 2019) took a leave of absence and did not return. / SplashNews.com
Nevils, for her part, took a leave of absence from the network amid the scandal and never went back.
In her book, Nevils gave an update on how she’s doing after spending time recovering in a psych ward.
“I have painstakingly rebuilt my life,” she revealed. “I got married. I had two beautiful children. Every moment with my family is a precious piece of the life that I once believed I no longer deserved to live.”
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.