Don Lemon Speaks Out: Why He Thinks Matt Lauer Deserves a Comeback
Don Lemon is coming to the defense of his friend, Matt Lauer, six years after the former Today show host’s dramatic exit from NBC. In a surprising turn of events, the 58-year-old opened up about his friendship with Lauer during an appearance on the Hollywood Raw Podcast. The former CNN anchor shared his thoughts on Lauer’s potential comeback, even hinting at a podcast as the perfect platform.
“I think that if he could come back to digital, he can set his own course,” Lemon said. However, he admitted, “But I only got to know Matt after, you know, the whole situation happened.”
Lauer was ousted from NBC in November 2017 following allegations of sexual misconduct. While the industry has been hesitant to embrace him, Lemon believes the general public still holds Lauer in high regard.
Fans Still Love Matt Lauer?
Lemon shared how the former morning show host is still warmly greeted by admirers.
“Whenever I see Matt out and about or, you know, even with us, if we go out to dinner, my husband [Tim Malone] and I go out to dinner with him and his fiancée and people love him. Women love him. They’re like, ‘Man, oh my God, can I get a picture? I love you. I miss you on television,” Lemon recalled.
The positive reception from fans seems to contrast with the attitude within the media industry. “The public loves him. The public misses him, but it’s just the… it’s the people inside the business who are afraid of [what could happen],” Lemon noted.
Could a Comeback Be in the Cards?
Lemon speculated that if the decision were left to viewers rather than industry executives, Lauer would already be back in the spotlight.
“I think the public… I’ll put it this way. I think the general public would accept—just me—would accept Matt back. And I think people would watch him, and I think the ratings would be great,” he said.
This isn’t the first time a possible return for Lauer has been discussed. Back in April 2024, whispers of a comeback gained momentum when an insider told Us Weekly that Lauer was “planning his next act.”
“He’s started to talk to people,” the source revealed. “He’s planning his next act, still very upset with how he was portrayed, and still feels like he was the victim.”
A Complicated Legacy
Lauer’s downfall came during the height of the #MeToo movement, following allegations of inappropriate behavior made by a female colleague. The scandal led to his immediate dismissal from NBC, with details of the allegations later published in Ronan Farrow’s explosive 2019 book Catch and Kill. Lauer has consistently denied all accusations against him.
For now, Lauer remains out of the spotlight, but as celebrity comebacks go, anything is possible. And if Lemon’s observations are any indication, the public might just be ready to see what Lauer’s “next act” could look like.
