NYT - Lauer summoned another woman, bent her over... She passed out and had to be taken to a nurse

[dalton99a]

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/29/business/media/nbc-matt-lauer.html
NBC Receives at Least 2 New Complaints About Matt Lauer
By Ellen Gabler, Jim Rutenberg, Michael M. Grynbaum and Rachel Abrams
Nov. 29, 2017

On Wednesday, NBC received at least two more complaints related to Mr. Lauer, according to a person briefed on the network’s handling of the matter. One complaint came from a former employee who said Mr. Lauer had summoned her to his office in 2001, locked the door and had sex with her. She provided her account to The New York Times but declined to let her name be used.

In 2001, the woman said, Mr. Lauer, who is married, asked her to his office to discuss a story during a workday. When she sat down, she said, he locked the door, which he could do by pressing a button while sitting at his desk. (People who worked at NBC said the button was a regular security measure installed for high-profile employees.)

The woman said Mr. Lauer asked her to unbutton her blouse, which she did. She said the anchor then stepped out from behind his desk, pulled down her pants, bent her over a chair and had intercourse with her. At some point, she said, she passed out with her pants pulled halfway down. She woke up on the floor of his office, and Mr. Lauer had his assistant take her to a nurse.

The woman told The Times that Mr. Lauer never made an advance toward her again and never mentioned what occurred in his office. She said she did not report the episode to NBC at the time because she believed she should have done more to stop Mr. Lauer. She left the network about a year later.

(more details at link)

[Glimmer of Hope]

1. He is a rapist.

[Blue_true]

4. Sounds like he is. nt

[superpatriotman]

5. That's a harsh judgement based on two paragraphs

there was no consent?

[mcar]

6. Doesn't seem like there was consent

[Glimmer of Hope]

8. Two paragraphs?

"Mr. Lauer had summoned her to his office in 2001, locked the door and sexually assaulted her.."

[dalton99a]

10. Very recent change by NYT editor

The text I copied and posted above which read "locked the door and had sex with her" has been changed to "locked the door and sexually assaulted her"

[Glimmer of Hope]

14. No wonder I was confused and had to read the article twice!

Thanks for the explanation.

[CatWoman]

16. LOL

[bettyellen]

18. The opinion that the NYT is pushing fake news? Yeah, go with that....

[forgotmylogin]

44. And he has a fucking button to facilitate it

like he's a rapey James Bond villain???

[mythology]

49. Apparently that was a security measure for high profile people

He used it for that, but it seems like it was standard.

[CanonRay]

2. What a creep.

[Pachamama]

3. Matt Lauer is a RAPIST!!!!

OMG.....hearing the story of what he did to this woman is horrific....this is rape....aggravated and even possibly violent....

I feel sick....

[Ilsa]

7. I wonder what the assistant knows and if he/she

covered for Lauer and helped set up circumstances for him to assault women.

[dalton99a]

11. Very pertinent question

[bullwinkle428]

9. This is Weinstein-level stuff. Good luck saving that marriage now, buddy!

[Hekate]

13. That is rape

[BootinUp]

15. Sounds like he needs to be prosecuted. Nt

[superpatriotman]

17. For which part?

Lots of conclusions being jumped to.

[Cicada]

55. Statute of limitations bars prosecution of rape before 2006

New York eliminated the statute of limitations for rape in 2006. Rapes before that had a limited number of years for prosecution.

[SharonClark]

19. This is nuts. She wasn't in a cabin in the woods.

She should have screamed, someone would have heard her. Actually, she should have demanded he unlock the door when he asked her to unbutton her blouse. Instead, she unbuttoned her blouse. Acting helpless and being stupid plays right into the anti-woman narrative.

[SamKnause]

21. 64 year old female here.

I don't get it either.

That is certainly not how I would have reacted.

[Demsrule86]

28. It is sexual harassment in order to keep your job...you have sex with someone.

It happens...and if you are single woman with kids to feed or you really need the money...some feel they have no choice...it is horrible and he needs to be fired...but what I have read isn't rape...almost though. He didn't act in a vacuum. The culture was created at NBC and they are to blame for allowing it. My husband worked for years in a male dominated industry and this sort of thing was simply not tolerated. There were rules in place and any who broke them were fired...from the lowest to the highest.

[LisaL]

48. The way it's described, I also don't think he could be prosecuted for rape, even if it happened

exactly as she described. It doesn't sound like she ever actually told him "no."

[yardwork]

24. Educate yourself about rape.

[johnp3907]

34. This post is repulsive.

[SamKnause]

20. 64 year old female here;

Mr. Lauer asked her to unbutton her blouse, which she did.

Why ?????????????????????????

Was she drugged ???

Did he threaten her ???

Did he have a weapon ???

Did she want to fuck him ???

I would have told him to fuck off.

I would not fuck someone to keep my job.

No job is that important.

Then he pulled her pants halfway down.

Did she scream ???

Did she scratch the shit out of him ???

Did she kick the shit out of him ???

Did she bang on the locked door ???

I don't understand this woman or her story.


Flame away.

[yardwork]

23. Educate yourself about rape.

[SamKnause]

33. This is not rape.

Maybe you should educate yourself on the subject.

[yardwork]

42. Were you there? Are you investigating the allegations?

[SamKnause]

45. Were you ???

Are you investigating the allegations ???

[yardwork]

47. Nope. But I'm not posting a smack down "This is not rape!!!!!"

[SamKnause]

51. I am not posting smack.

Did he have a weapon ???

Did he physically force her to unbutton her blouse.

Were they on a deserted island.

She did it because he asked her !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why would you do that ????????????

I am sorry, I just do not understand.

[yardwork]

65. There are lots of resources for you to learn about coercion and rape.

The standard of proof doesn't require being in a deserted island or having a weapon.

[SamKnause]

66. You have a very low opinion of women if you think they would all unbutton their blouses.

Are you seriously saying you would prostitute yourself to keep a job ???

[yardwork]

67. What the hell are you talking about?

Stop bullying me.

[SamKnause]

68. Are you serious ???

Bullying you ???

You are the one who is doing the bullying.

[oberliner]

25. Honestly cannot believe these posts are real

Mind-boggling.

[SamKnause]

32. Believe it.

Have you ever unbuttoned your blouse when your boss requested it ???

I haven't.

[oberliner]

41. Bosses should not tell an employee to unbutton their blouse in their office

There is no explanation that allows for this not to be a fireable offense.

[SamKnause]

43. Of course they shouldn't.

I would think that would be a given.

Yes, he should be fired.

[oberliner]

46. So what is the point of questioning the woman's actions?

I'm not understanding the impetus behind your questions.

[SamKnause]

50. I don't understand why you would unbutton your blouse because

your boss asked you to, or told you to.

Unless he had a weapon or physically forced her to unbutton her blouse I just do not understand.

They were in an office building with lots of people.

They weren't alone in an isolated area.

Couldn't she have said fuck you and walked to the door ???

It was locked.

Couldn't she have banged on the door ???

I am sorry I don't understand why she unbuttoned her blouse.

[LanternWaste]

57. Coercion and intimidation are not difficult things to understand.

"I don't understand why you would unbutton your blouse because your boss asked you..."

Coercion and intimidation are not difficult things to understand. I'm not sure if you're unable, or simply unwilling to understand as much.

[SamKnause]

59. Maybe it is you who is unable, or unwilling to understand.

You seem to think all women are weak and mousy.

I would not unbutton my blouse because my boss told me to.

It is not that hard to understand.

If I had to fuck to get a paycheck, I think leaving that job would be a plus.

[Tracer]

58. I don't understand it either!

Seemingly, without hesitation, this woman voluntarily took off her blouse.

What on earth was she thinking?

Everyone else on this thread has their crystal ball out, knowing precisely how fearful of retribution she'd be if she resisted Lauer.

[SamKnause]

60. I don't get it.

[Evergreen Emerald]

53. He did have a weapon

His power over her livelihood; his power over her career, over her ability to feed her family. He wielded that power as if it were a sword.

It astounds me that people are still dissecting the actions of the victim. "Why didn't she scream?" "Why didn't she insist that the let her out of the locked room?" Perhaps she feared his power.

Instead of focusing on why she let him get away with it, let's dissect the actions of the perpetrator.

[LiberalFighter]

63. Good response. And it is reality.

Another human response in a situation like this because it is behavior you don't expect from them is being stun.

Then there is the aftershock with thoughts going through their mind of what they could do. In most cases they would think that if they say or do anything something could happen to them or they won't be believed. The shame they would have if they reported what happened. Either because people didn't believe it or they think that she let him do it.

[gollygee]

52. Agree

Perfect example of why rape victims stay silent.

[HopeAgain]

27. I think you have to be in the woman's shoes to judge her...

But at best, this guy is a creepy asshole. Isn't he married? It's enough I don't want to watch this jerk on my TV.

[Demsrule86]

30. Exactly right...no matter what, he is a monster...obviously a misogynist.

I never liked him and am glad he is gone.

[SamKnause]

35. Yes, he is a creepy asshole.

[janterry]

29. I don't get this story, either

and then 'passed out?'

He certainly used his power and manipulated her/the situation.

But I don't get this story. I'd have to hear more.

[kwassa]

56. Did Lauer have control over her future career? And her income?

Could he ruin her name in the news business, so that she would never again find a job?

[yardwork]

22. Lauer raped her. He didn't "have sex with her." He violently raped her.

[dalton99a]

62. NYT has changed the wording

"locked the door and had sex with her" is now "locked the door and sexually assaulted her"

[underthematrix]

26. He should be arrested

[Doodley]

31. Sounds horrendous, but I have a problem with trial by media when the accuser won't be named.

[janterry]

38. I do, too

I think the time for not naming the woman (in most cases, woman) has - nearly? - passed.

It was important 20, 30 and especially 40 years ago. But we are in a new era. I think that women should agree to come forward. I'm nearly at the point (though not quite where you are) where I think women have to come forward.

IDK. Perhaps the time really is now.............

[Justice]

36. Koby Bryant was charged for doing this.

Last edited Thu Nov 30, 2017, 08:44 AM - Edit history (1)

[LisaL]

39. That's not accurate. Case didn't make it to trial because the accuser refused to testify.

[Justice]

40. you are correct, will update.

[wishstar]

37. Predators choose their victims- people they think will be vulnerable/compliant out of fear

They don't usually victimize older more assertive people who have connections and ability to speak out without losing their jobs. Instead they target younger victims with less experience and less job security who are intimidated by powerful men and afraid to speak out and fight back

My first supervisor fits the profile- older white male who only seriously hit on new employees who didn't know other employees and were in their probationary periods where a bad evaluation could cause them to lose their jobs. My supervisor successfully deflected some serious accusations because of his Matt Lauerish habit of flirting and milder sexual joking around with those he did not ever seriously assault, so those colleagues would come to his defense thinking he was just a harmless flirt.

[extvbroadcaster]

54. What a place to work!

Matt was making about 20 million a year. Just figure a million and a half a month. No holidays and he has to have time off. So maybe it comes out to 80 grand or so a work day. He gets up, goes to NBC, everybody kisses his ass, he does some lame TV show, goes back to his office, bends some young woman over for a quickie, then back home. 80 grand or more for that day. A coal miner that Trump loves so much would be lucky to make that in a year in dangerous work. Matt gets to bang some woman at work, and earn the miners salary in a day. Something is very wrong with how we compensate work in this country.

[LiberalFighter]

64. He got paid way too much.

Anyone that got paid as much as he did in the business was paid too much in my opinion.

[kentuck]

61. It could have been rape or a medical condition?

Something is seriously wrong when a woman is lying unconscious on your office floor.

It doesn't matter if it "seemed" consensual. Or if it was "consensual".

It is easy to blame the young woman. It is easy for the young woman to blame herself. The person to blame is the one committing the assault.