Former “Today” show host Natalie Morales is “in shock” over the sexual misconduct allegations raised against Matt Lauer.

“The ‘Today’ show, of course has been my family for 16 years now and it is difficult — everybody has been saying how difficult it is to process,” she said on Access Hollywood Live Wednesday afternoon.

She emphasized the bravery of the woman who came forward with her accusations, and in turn, shut down any speculating on past rumors regarding her relationship with the long-time NBC anchor.

“I have personally dealt with rumors in the past, for years, that were hurtful to me, my family — they diminished my hard work,” Morales said. “I’ve adressed those rumors head-on in the past.”


NBC “Today” co-host Matt Lauer, left, and the program’s newswoman Natalie Morales, appear during a segment of the show in New York’s Rockefeller Center
The anchor continued: “That is not the story today. The story today is the courage of a colleague, who did come forward, and when and if she wants to tell her story publicly, I’m sure she will. But it did take a lot of courage for her to come forward. It was no doubt a very painful decision.”

Lauer and Morales weathered rumors of an affair after she left “Today” in the summer of 2016 to replace Billy Bush on “Access Hollywood.” The pair both repeatedly denied whispers that Morales was West Coast-bound because her alleged relationship with Lauer soured.

Lauer said he chose to address the reports because of his family.

“When you feel your family is being threatened and hurt, you speak up,” he said during the Mike Lupica Podcast in July 2016. “And then you put your head down and go back to your business.”

Lauer, who got his start at NBC in 1992 after filling in as a news reader, was fired Wednesday after helming the show for 20 years. NBC News chairman Andrew Lack in a statement said they had received a “detailed” complaint accusing Lauer of inappropriate sexual behavior, which reportedly began at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

His ousting comes on the heels of veteran newsman Charlie Rose, who was fired from “CBS This Morning” after several women accused him of sexual misconduct. And in October, MSNBC political analyst Mark Halperin was let go in October.