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On Thursday, NBC’s “Today” show celebrated 25 years of their morning show at Studio 1A. To mark the anniversary, the network shared a 5-minute video celebrating “special moments” over the years, starting with a shot of Katie Couric and Bryant Gumbel in the ’90s, and including clips of anchors including Al Roker, Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie.
Notably absent from the tribute? Matt Lauer, who was a face of the program for more than 20 years.
Lauer was fired from “Today” in November 2017 for inappropriate sexual behavior at work. Up until then, he had been a part of many viewers’ mornings: He was named co-anchor of NBC’s morning news program in 1997, covering everything from the Olympics to interviews with presidents.
So “Today” viewers on Twitter were quick to note that he wasn’t included in the anniversary video.
When TODAY first moved to Studio 1A in 1994, it became a place where the team could try new things and connect with viewers.
Take a look back on some of those special moments over the past 25 years. pic.twitter.com/km1cbuMeAB
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) June 20, 2019
There were people who thought he should be included because he’s part of the show “family.”
Amazing that a member of “the family” was totally excluded from the 25th Anniversary of Studio 1-A. I know there were serious issues with Matt Lauer and his conduct is not to ever be condoned, but all “families” are flawed in some way. Aren’t they? History shouldn’t be erased
— Richard Iniguez (@riniguez23) June 20, 2019
And other who thought he should be in the video because he anchored for “all those years.”
#MattLauer should have been included because he was apart of the Today Show all those years, and although he’s been fired for his wrongs and mistakes, at least give him his respect for bringing his talent to NBC Today. He’s still one of the best news anchors they’ve had.
— Don Jaymor (@DonJaymor) June 20, 2019
Others who joked that NBC used super-powered stones and editing finesse to erase Lauer.
Today show used power stone on Matt pic.twitter.com/PUqvAZUZkZ
— wasshappeneeen? (@Violentpatience) June 20, 2019
They must have to do a lot of editing to erase #MattLauer . #awkward#25thanniversary
— Page Boothby (@pageboo) June 20, 2019
And people who thought that excluding Lauer was the right thing to do.
Thank you for not including Matt Lauer you did the right thing
— Anneisafan (@anne_is_a_fan) June 20, 2019
Lauer wasn’t the only anchor obviously omitted from the tribute. There were several other “Today” alumni who didn’t have screen time, including Ann Curry, the journalist who co-anchored with Lauer, was unceremoniously forced to exit the show in 2012, and who said later that she was “not surprised” by the Lauer allegations.
Many on Twitter called NBC out for not featuring Curry, saying it “looks like they only looked back that last 5 years.”
It’s looks like they only looked back that last 5 years. They left out Anne Curry also.
— sTePhAnIe (@zredhott) June 20, 2019
“Where is Ann Curry?” a number of people asked.
Where was Ann Curry?
— Suzanne Du Charme (@SuzanneDuCharme) June 20, 2019
Where’s Ann Curry?
— Woman Gail (@Bossanovalady76) June 20, 2019
There was another pretty significant member also missing from his clip … Where in the world is @AnnCurry??
— ej (@Bar_Down17) June 20, 2019
Some wondered if NBC was worried including her “would remind viewers of the shoddy way she was treated.”
No Ann Curry? I guess that would remind viewers of the shoddy way she was treated, eh?
— L. Ann (@mytiaraslipped) June 20, 2019
Where’s Ann Curry? She doesn’t deserve this snub.
— Thor (Jane Foster) 2020 ???❤️ (@Thor_JaneFoster) June 20, 2019
NBC has not responded to USA TODAY’s request for comment on the video.
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