Matt Lauer is not getting fired from NBC's "Today" show despite rampant tweets about the not-so-popular host.
According to the Huffington Post, Alexandra Wallace, the newly installed executive overseeing the "Today" morning show, shot down rumors that Lauer was getting fired.
"There is absolutely no truth to this," she said. "There have been some recent outrageous claims regarding Matt and the 'Today' show, and an awful lot of piling on from nameless, faceless sources. These stories are wrong and irresponsible."
Radar Online first reported that that Lauer would be getting fired by February 2013 if the show ratings don't improve by that time. The 54-year-old co-host, who earns $25 million a year, may be forced to leave if the morning news program continues to lose viewers to rival "Good Morning America." Obviously, the rumors aren't true.
NBC News President Steve Capus also spoke on the Lauer situation, saying that it's just internet speculation, according to Inquisitr.
"Sadly, this is the era in which we live: Venomous tweets somehow threaten to drown out all of those who praised Matt for his coverage," Capus explained.
Although Lauer getting fired was just a rumor, it seems that the viewers would of liked that idea and is open to having a new co-host.
TheHollywood5.com listed some tweets from Twitterverse that showed that Lauer has some angry viewers. On Thanksgiving Day, when Lauer mispronounced the iconic Gershwin song "S Wonderful," tweets poured in lashing out at him.
"Really Matt Lauer? 'S. Wonderful' Try 'S'Wonderful,' one of the most popular Gershwin songs ever written. Heard of the Gershwins?" one tweeted. Another wrote, "Matt Lauer's enunciation of 'S Wonderful makes it clear that he is totally devoid of funk."
There were some other non-related tweets that were just general hate for the "Today" host.
"Dear Matt Lauer, RETIRE!" one person said. Another said, "YOU LOOK LIKE A CROTCHETY OLD MAN." One more said, "Can't decide if it's Matt Lauer that I hate, or just the mindless blather that comes out of his face all the time." They must really hate him.
The Baltimore Sun pointed out a reason why the public might hate Lauer.
"More important to Lauer and NBC News, is the fact that there seems to be a kind of widespread enmity toward him right now, and I think that is connected to his perceived role in Ann Curry's firing and all that has followed with Today's loss of ratings and change in leadership. Many of the most savage tweet-reviews of his parade performance mention the belief that Lauer, who signed a huge contract this year, used his clout to push Curry out," the report said. "NBC News has let Lauer, like Brian Williams at 'NBC Nightly News,' get too much power. That's easy to do with the front-men of top-rated shows, but Lauer is now seen as a bully by some, especially women, I think, and people are out to tear him down in any way they can."
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