Katie Couric has nothing but empathy and respect for Brooke Nevils, who accused Matt Lauer of raping her.
The former “Today” show co-host, 69, told Page Six that while he has not read Nevils’ memoir, “The Unspeakable: Silence, Shame, and the Stories We Choose to Believe,” he has “read excerpts.”
“I feel so bad for her. Shaking, not moving,” Couric said at the City Harvest Presents the 2026 Gala. “I think she was very brave to write this book.”
Lauer’s attorney did not respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
Lauer and Couric worked together as co-anchors of the Today show for about 10 years, from 1997 to 2006. Couric had been off the show for a long time, but he unceremoniously left the show in 2017 after Lauer faced accusations of sexual misconduct.
Nevils, a former NBC employee, claimed in her memoir that Lauer sexually assaulted her while covering the 2014 Sochi Olympics. She also claimed that Lauer raped her in the offices of his “Today” show.
She filed a complaint against Lauer with NBC in 2017. Several other women also came forward with their claims.
Lauer was fired within 24 hours and has since separated from his then-wife, Annette Locke.
The disgraced media personality released a statement expressing remorse for some of his actions, but said his relationship with Mr Nevils was “consensual”.
Couric, who left the Today show in 2006 after 15 years, had nothing but nice things to say about his time there.
“I will always have some of my happiest memories from my 15 years on the Today show,” she said. “It’s one of the best jobs in TV news because it offers so much variety.”
Couric added that while “the hours aren’t easy,” waking up at 3 a.m. “creates a family environment… that’s really different than anything else.”
The TV personality joined other celebrities including Christie Brinkley, Bowen Yang and Jason Biggs to raise money for City Harvest, an organization that distributes food to hungry New Yorkers.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call our Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.
