Matt Lauer on Ann Curry: Ill Leave If Its the Best for the Show

As I informed you the other day, Matt Lauer is finally speaking up for himself in the Ann Curry debacle, laying the blame at NBC’s door for the way they handled her sudden departure. One network executive is also coming to Lauer’s defense.

Not only did he not get Curry fired but he actually offered to leave himself if that was what was best for the show, Steve Burke, NBC Universal Chief Executive, says for the Daily Beast.

“If you think the show’s better off without me, let me know, and I’ll get out of the way,” Burke recalls Lauer saying, during a meeting after Curry’s departure, when Lauer was still trying to come up with a way to salvage the situation.

Burke disagreed: The Today Show would go on with Matt and without Ann.

“You’re the best person who’s ever done this. We’ll get through this,” Burke says he told a very upset Lauer.