Natalie Morales rumors are keeping the Internet busy. According to them, the popular anchor on NBC’s hit morning show Today will be axed soon because of Matt Lauer. It is being reported, that Matt Lauer is not a huge fan of Natalie Morales and is trying to get her booted from the Today Show and replace her with his good friend, Hoda Kotb. However, according to another insider, the rumors are false and Morales is not going anywhere.
Has Natalie Morales been dumped by the Today Show? Some rumors say yes, while others say no. Late last week, Page Six broke the surprising news/rumors that Natalie Morales was about to lose her gig on the daily morning show, and Matt Lauer was the one to be blamed – remember the Ann Curry drama.
An insider spoke to the New York publication and explained that the plan is to make it look like Morales is getting a promotion and move her to Dateline. Matt Lauer is hoping that his close pal, Hoda Kotb, will take over Natalie Morales’ segments. The person shared:
. “They’ll try to position this as a promotion for Natalie — but make no mistake, she’s not happy.”
A senior employee at the Today Show has stepped out to blast the Natalie Morales rumors saying that staff members of ABC’s Good Morning America are probably the ones leaking those fake stories. What’s the reason?
Last week, Today beat Good Morning America in the key adults 25-54 demo, it was the show’s biggest win in the demo since NBC’s Olympic coverage in February of 2014. For the week of April 20, Today averaged 1.793 million viewers in the demo, while GMA recorded an audience of 1.765 million. The individual explained:
“This is all hogwash. Natalie is beloved by the staff and millions of fans.”
The staff member went on to explain how important Morales is to the team:
“It’s pretty obvious this vicious rumor is being spread by a competitor nervous that we have won a week in the demo and are moving toward regaining our place as the number one morning show. We’ve got great momentum, we love our team and Natalie is an important part of it.”
This is not the first time; rumors of Natalie Morales getting axed have surfaced. In the fall of 2014, when Willie Geist was dumped from Today, it was also being claimed that Morales and Savannah Guthrie were heading to the exit door.
However, the crew stepped in and saved the two women. NBC News President Deborah Turness said at the time:
“NBC’s Today has the best anchor team in morning television.The entire Today show anchor team — Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, Natalie Morales, Willie Geist, Carson Daly, Tamron Hall, Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb — are incredibly talented, valued and have our support. In response to the false rumors that have been circulated about our anchor team, NBC wants to be absolutely clear: The rumors are wrong — period. This is the team we are committed to. And this is the team that our viewers turn to in the morning.”
In 2013, Lauer was almost given the boot for CNN’s Anderson Cooper.
What are your thoughts on the Natalie Morales rumors? Is there any truth to this drama?
