And, now, for one of the most predictable parts of this horrid news cycle, the part in which the serial harasser makes the heartfelt apology. This time, it’s Matt Lauer’s turn.
The bulk of the top story for Thursday’s Today show—the morning show Lauer anchored for two decades—was spent on his apology. It was read aloud in its entirety.
“There are no words to express my sorry and regret for the pain I have caused others by words and actions,” wrote Lauer, who has been accused of (among other things) inviting a former employee into his office and sexually assaulting her.
“Some of what is being said about me is untrue or mischaracterized, but there is enough truth in these stories to make me feel embarrassed and ashamed,” he continued, adding that he has been forced to look hard at his “troubling flaws.”
No shit, Matt.
Here is the statement in its entirety, which is also available on CNN:
There are no words to express my sorrow and regret for the pain I have caused others by words and actions. To the people I have hurt, I am truly sorry. As I am writing this, I realize the depth of the damage and disappointment I have left behind at home and at NBC.
Some of what is being said about me is untrue or mischaracterized, but there is enough truth in these stories to make me feel embarrassed and ashamed. I regret that my shame is now shared by the people I cherish dearly.
Repairing the damage will take a lot of time and soul searching and I’m committed to beginning that effort. It is now my full time job. The last two days have forced me to take a very hard look at my own troubling flaws. It’s been humbling. I am blessed to be surrounded by the people I love. I thank them for their patience and grace.
I suppose this is the part where some people evaluate the veracity or sincerity of the apology, taking note of who the abuser apologized to and how, how he framed his abuses, how well he articulated his “shame” (despite not having the words—after years of being unaccountable for their actions, these men are so often left without words). It’s the next step in a cycle that has been all too familiar.
Y’all can have it.
Read more at CNN.