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'Today' team supports Matt Lauer with letter
April 26, 2013, 2:03 PM EST
By Tim KenneallyTheWrap
Kathie Lee Gifford and her "Today" cohorts have signed a letter of support for Matt Lauer, who's been hit with bad press since co-host Ann Curry's ouster last year -- and can you guess who's name isn't on it?
Gifford says not to read too much into the fact that Curry hasn't signed. Lauer has denied that he played any role in forcing her from the show last June.
Gifford told the New York Daily News that she simply hasn't seen Curry lately to get her to sign. The rest of the "Today" cast and crew have, including Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie, Willie Geist and Hoda Kotb.
"She's just not part of (the show) day-in and day-out anymore," Gifford said. "This wasn't about Ann, this is about our love and support for a different member of our family."
Also from TheWrap: Matt Lauer Less Popular Than Polio, Says Matt Lauer
Curry still retains ties with NBC as a roving reporter.
Gifford intended to publish the letter in USA Today, but dropped the plan at Lauer's request, the Daily News said.
"We the people of the 'Today' show who work side by side, day by day, year in and year out with Matt Lauer are tired of unfounded and unrelenting stories by faceless characters regarding his character and reputation," the letter reads. "No one has coerced us to sign this. With our signatures we stand in support of our colleague and friend."
Gifford said she wrote the letter because she was tired of seeing her colleague criticized.
"I've been through it," Gifford said. "I also knew what he must've been going through internally."
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