NBC is denying it tried to suppressRonan Farrow‘sHarvey Weinstein investigationafter the journalist and author claimed the disgraced producer used rumors aboutMatt Lauerto pressure the network into killing Farrow’s story.
“As you know, our news organization is filled with dedicated, professional journalists, including some of the best and most experienced investigative reporters, as well as others who support our reporting with exceptional talent, integrity and decency,” Lack, 72, wrote. “It disappoints me to say that even with [the] passage of time, Farrow’s account has become neither more accurate, nor more respectful of the dedicated colleagues he worked with here at NBC News. He uses a variety of tactics to paint a fundamentally untrue picture.”
Taylor Hill/FilmMagic; Alexander Koerner/Getty
Lack wrote that as Farrow began reporting his Weinstein story, NBC News “completely supported it over many months with resources — both financial and editorial.”
Lack wrote NBC News gave Farrow the “go ahead” to publish his investigation withThe New Yorkerin late 2017, five days after theTimesbroke the story first.
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Farrow’s article, Lack said, “bore little resemblance to the reporting he had while at NBC News.”
“In fact, relevant sections of the book confirm not only how many women were named, but also how much proof Ronan had gathered,” Farrow’s rep adds. “Importantly, it documents the lengths to which NBC executives went to thwart the reporting efforts of Ronan and his producer Rich McHugh and why they did so. That is why it is calledCatch and Kill, out on October 15.”
Lack’s memo comes after Farrow reported new claims about Weinstein’s attempts to suppress the sexual assault allegations against him from coming out. Weinstein used negative information he had about Lauer to spook NBC, according toThe Hollywood Reporter.
Harvey Weinstein and Matt Lauer.Jim Spellman/WireImage; Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty
“Weinstein made it known to the network that he was aware of Lauer’s behavior and capable of revealing it,” Farrow writes in his new book, per the outlet.
Farrow reportedly claimed that Weinstein usedNationalEnquirer‘s accumulated reporting on Lauer’s alleged workplace misconduct as leverage. NBC denied ever receiving these threats from Weinstein in a statement that Farrow includes in the book, perTHR.
An attorney for Weinstein, who has denied allegations of nonconsensual sex, did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
“The first moment we learned of it was the night of November 27, 2017, and he was fired in 24 hours,” Lack wrote. “Any suggestion that we knew prior to that evening or tried to cover up any aspect of Lauer’s conduct is absolutely false and offensive.”
Lauer denied the allegationin a lengthy statement, calling their encounter “consensual.”
Since the incident, Lack revealed that NBC has worked to “improve our culture and ensure we have a workplace where everyone feels safe and respected, as well as protected in raising claims.”
“We’ve required all NBC News employees to complete in-person workplace behavior trainings and we’ve significantly increased awareness of the ways employees report concerns – anonymously or otherwise,” Lack added.
source: people.com
