Ronan Farrow
The book "Catch and Kill" details how NBC decided to kill the Harvey Weinstein exposé after the movie mogul effectively "laid siege" to NBC News chairman Lack and NBC News president Oppenheim during Farrow's investigation. Farrow reports that in a September 2017 phone call, Lack told Weinstein's attorney, "We've told Harvey we are not doing a story."
The following month, Oppenheim pressured Farrow to sign a "compromise statement that conceded the story ... failed to meet the network's standards" to contradict his claim that NBC News killed his Weinstein story, then tried to cover it up. Oppenheim disputes this account and insists that when Farrow brought the story to the network, he had nobody on the record and it was not ready for air.
© WireImageAndy Lack
One NBC insider told Page Six, "Either Lack or Oppenheim are going to have to take the fall for this — or both of them. Oppenheim may have been trying to protect his Hollywood interests, while Lack maintained a cordial relationship with Weinstein."
Farrow also reveals details about Lack's history of office affairs prior to his NBC job. A second insider added, "Lack has presided over NBC's decision not to run two of the biggest news stories of the decade — the Trump/Billy Bush tape and the Harvey Weinstein exposé ... How much longer can he hold on?"
We're told this has been incredibly demoralizing for the staff — and that Wednesday, as the allegations from Ronan's book dropped, was incredibly chaotic at 30 Rock.
Yet another insider said, "It is bad — there's a lot of people that are upset that they work at NBC, there's a bewilderment that we are still hearing from NBC executives that Ronan didn't have the Weinstein story.
"There were a number of relationships at the top of NBC News that were cozy with Weinstein, and nobody has been fired because this goes all the way to the top. But this has to stop, somebody has to go because Comcast has a duty to its shareholders."
© AFP/Getty ImagesNoah Oppenheim
"CBS This Morning" led their report by saying the book "reveals a rape allegation ... and a claim it was ignored" by network brass and said Farrow's work "accused executives of not taking action."
It went on to say that Lauer's accuser Brooke Nevils — a former NBC producer — "told colleagues and superiors about the encounters" and that "after Lauer was fired, she learned that NBC News president Noah Oppenheim and chairman Andrew Lack were quote 'emphasizing that the incident had "not been criminal" or an "assault."'"
ABC's "Good Morning America," meanwhile, reported that "after the encounter ... Farrow says [Nevils] told colleagues and superiors at NBC but nothing happened" until she went to her boss, NBC anchor Meredith Vieira.
NBC's "Today" show, meanwhile, reported only that Nevils "eventually told Vieira in 2017, several years after the Games," and that "Vieira urged her to go to NBC Universal's human resources department with a lawyer, which she did. The day after that meeting, Lauer was terminated by NBC for inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace."
"They're trying to rewrite history as if NBC brass didn't have some responsibility here," said an industry insider. "For a news organization that's supposed to stand for truth and transparency, that's a pretty glaring omission."
But an NBC insider pointed to the fact that an investigation into the Lauer scandal concluded, "We found no evidence indicating that any NBC News or 'Today' show leadership, News HR or others in positions of authority in the News Division received any complaints about Lauer's workplace behavior prior to Nov. 27, 2017."
Lack issued a statement saying: "Our highest priority is to ensure we have a workplace environment where everyone feels safe and protected. We are absolutely committed to making this a reality. There can be no exception."
Lauer also issued a statement, denying all alleged wrongdoing.
So why does/would someone like hime wish to RAPE a lady?
ANSWER: A publically acceptable psychopath.
R.C.
*The only time I have EVER been called 'handsome' was by some FEMA/FISA/DEA agent offering herself... she
a) did one thing that PROVED she was a 'plant' (can't say; see the auto bio when out - I'll let y'all know); AND,
b) Was honestly shocked that I was NOT some ugly troll.
I was playing pool alone, and I saw when she,her 'date', and others walked in, both with and after. She eventually came up to the only pool table and tried to 'pick me up', saying, in a quite honestly SHOCKED way: "My, you're quite 'handsome!'" (Why? She'd seen only my DL & Concealed Weapon Pics; where I lALWAYS try to look ook pretty damn scary...IF I wish to.**
I hopped up; sat my ass on the pool table, and chatted with her until she was about to blow her cover. I then went over to her and her date' at the bar to, proverbially, 'get in their faces.' The backup pair of guys instantly walked out the door, but stayed by the window to watch as I spoke to her and her 'boyfriend'. (If I was a liar, I'd say he had a ring; but I honestly didn't notice, care et al as I'm honestly pretty astute when the SHTF - and this was but another.
I got 'into it' with them at the bar - quite politely - asking them, "As Americans, and, I presume, Americans who appreciate OUR constitutiion, don't you have a little bit of moral apoplexy when you are asked - or ordered - to play silly roles like these?"
NEITHER would look at me. They despaired "Hey, we're jyst trying to make a living!" I said, 'You need to RE-Align your moral compasses!"
I walked out, shoulder brushed one of the armed 'backup team' - who coould've kicked my ass quite easily, I'm sure, but who did nada (Note: I/Floridians, even with CCW, can't walk into a bar with a concealed weapon) - and was thereafter gone.
I don't believe I was then followed because:
a) They knew where I would be going. (Home.) &
b) They didn't wish to give me more evidentiary ammo.
R.C.
**On one of those 'mean, scary looking' DL Pics; my brother taped a Manson-like swastika on my lower forehead, between my eyes... IT WAS HILARIOUS!!! [Link]
RC