For years, the abrupt departure of Ann Curry from The Today Show has remained one of television’s most controversial and discussed topics. Despite the speculation and rumors swirling around her exit, Ann herself has stayed mostly silent, choosing to move on while maintaining her dignity. But now, in a bombshell interview, Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor of Today, has stepped forward to share explosive details about what really happened behind the scenes. And what she revealed is nothing short of shocking.

In a stunning admission, Guthrie connected Ann Curry’s exit to the dark scandal involving former Today host Matt Lauer. While many fans and media insiders have speculated about the true reasons behind Curry’s sudden departure in 2012, Guthrie’s explosive comments shed light on a tangled web of office politics, personal animosities, and a toxic culture that might have played a key role in Curry’s downfall.

The Shocking Exit of Ann Curry

Ann Curry’s departure from The Today Show was a moment that sent shockwaves throughout the media world. One day she was a co-anchor, beloved by millions, and the next, she was suddenly out of a job. At the time, NBC claimed it was simply a professional decision, part of an effort to “rebrand” the show after years of stiff competition from Good Morning America.

But insiders have long claimed that there was more to the story. It was widely known that Curry, despite her journalistic prowess and connection with audiences, didn’t quite gel with the Today show’s inner circle. Reports surfaced that her chemistry with her co-anchor, Matt Lauer, was strained, and sources pointed to a brewing tension between them.

However, it wasn’t until the Today show’s ratings plummeted that Curry’s exit became a full-blown scandal. With Lauer firmly in the spotlight as the show’s lead anchor, many viewers and critics started to question if he had been complicit in pushing Curry out. And now, Savannah Guthrie is confirming that the real reasons behind Curry’s exit are more complex than anyone realized.

Savannah Guthrie’s Bombshell Revelation

In a recent, highly anticipated interview, Savannah Guthrie sat down to address the long-standing question: What happened to Ann Curry? For years, the media had been speculating about the tension between Curry and Lauer, and the dramatic fallout that led to her ousting. But it wasn’t until Guthrie spoke up that the full picture began to emerge.

“It was a difficult time for all of us,” Guthrie confessed, speaking candidly about the atmosphere at The Today Show in the months leading up to Curry’s departure. “The pressure we were under was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Ratings, internal politics, and external criticism—it was a storm we couldn’t control.”

Guthrie, who became co-anchor of Today shortly after Curry’s exit, revealed that there was a toxic atmosphere within the show’s inner circle, one that was rooted in the competition between the anchors and a lack of unity. But what really shocked viewers was when Guthrie made an explosive connection to the Matt Lauer sexual harassment scandal, which would erupt years later in 2017.

In a jaw-dropping admission, Guthrie revealed that the behind-the-scenes drama surrounding Curry’s exit was deeply tied to Lauer’s actions and the broader toxic culture at NBC. “There were things happening behind closed doors that weren’t just about Ann. It was about a system—a system that allowed a lot of bad behavior to fester,” Guthrie said. “And when the truth came out about Matt, it became clear to me that there were deeper issues at play. I wish I could have known then what I know now.”

The Toxic Workplace Culture at NBC

Savannah’s revelation comes at a time when the full extent of Matt Lauer’s sexual harassment was coming to light, following his firing from The Today Show in 2017. Over the years, numerous women have come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct, painting a disturbing picture of an alleged culture of abuse at NBC, where Lauer’s behavior was reportedly ignored or even covered up.

For many, it raised the question: Could Lauer’s toxic behavior have been a contributing factor to Ann Curry’s abrupt exit from Today? In her interview, Guthrie didn’t mince words, saying that there was a clear “toxic masculinity” at play within the show’s ranks—an environment that had been enabled by Lauer’s position of power.

“There was a clear power dynamic at NBC,” Guthrie explained. “I think many people, including myself, didn’t fully understand the extent of the problem at the time. We were focused on the ratings, the show’s success, and what was in front of us. But looking back, it was clear that the system was broken.”

While Guthrie stopped short of directly implicating Lauer in Curry’s departure, her words suggest a link between the toxic workplace culture and the way Curry was treated. It’s no secret that Curry had a strained relationship with Lauer, and many speculate that his treatment of her contributed to her exit. But now, with the benefit of hindsight and a clearer understanding of the toxic environment at NBC, Guthrie’s statements suggest that things went much deeper than anyone had realized.

A System That Allowed Harassment to Thrive

One of the most powerful aspects of Guthrie’s comments is her acknowledgment of the systemic issues that allowed harassment to thrive at NBC. “It wasn’t just Matt. It was a culture that allowed this kind of behavior to go unchecked for so long,” she said. “There was a toxic work environment that enabled abuse of power to persist.”

In the wake of the Matt Lauer scandal, many women who had worked with him came forward with stories of harassment and mistreatment. But the bigger picture revealed a pattern of systemic failures, where not only Lauer’s actions but the entire corporate culture at NBC allowed for such behavior to continue unchecked for years.

“I think we’re all still trying to process the full extent of what happened,” Guthrie continued, her voice tinged with sadness. “It was a shocking and painful time for everyone involved, and in hindsight, I wish we had been able to address these issues earlier. But it wasn’t just Matt. It was a failure of the system as a whole.”

Ann Curry’s Legacy

Despite the drama and controversy surrounding her exit, Ann Curry has maintained her dignity, refusing to engage in the back-and-forth that has characterized her departure from Today. Curry, who has gone on to have a successful career in journalism, continues to speak out on important issues, including sexual harassment and women’s rights.

In many ways, her exit from Today now seems like part of a much larger story, one that involves systemic issues in the workplace that go beyond personal drama and ratings. Ann Curry’s legacy remains one of resilience and grace in the face of adversity—and Guthrie’s revelations now shed light on just how deep the scars from that time run.

Moving Forward

As for Savannah Guthrie, her courage in breaking her silence shows her commitment to healing and addressing the truth. In a world where powerful figures often go unchallenged, Guthrie’s decision to speak out and confront the uncomfortable reality of her workplace is nothing short of heroic.

While the full extent of the events surrounding Ann Curry’s exit may never be completely understood, Guthrie’s bombshell revelations have finally given the world a glimpse into the dark and toxic culture that plagued The Today Show for years. The truth is out there—and now, it’s up to all of us to ensure that such behavior never happens again.

Stay tuned, because this story is far from over.

“I came at a time of a lot of controversy for the show, and it wasn’t, I don’t think, a happy occasion, really — for anyone, including me.”

Savannah Guthrie, Ann Curry on ‘The Today Show’.Credit: Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty; Peter Kramer/NBC/NBC Newswire/NBCUniversal via Getty

Savannah Guthrie is reflecting on the unusual circumstances of her promotion.

The Today host, who was promoted from co-anchoring the 9 a.m. slot to the flagship 7 a.m. slot in 2012, recalled the tumultuous culture at the show around the time she replaced Ann Curry. “I came at a time of a lot of controversy for the show, and it wasn’t, I don’t think, a happy occasion, really — for anyone, including me,” Guthrie said in an interview with Parade.

The host said that she was convinced her time on Today would quickly come to an end, and that she was kept in the dark about her promotion until the last minute. “I was as terrified as I could possibly be because the bosses at the time had made a decision, and I quite literally was the last to know, and I was so afraid, and I was pretty sure that I wouldn’t last,” Guthrie remembered.

The journalist also said that she’d already achieved so much in her yearlong stint in the 9 a.m. slot that she didn’t expect her career to get any better. “At that point, I had come this far, and I was the anchor of the 9:00 on the Today show, and had been the legal correspondent, and been a White House correspondent, and all my dreams had already come true,” Guthrie explained. “It didn’t need to get any better than that. I already knew that I was the luckiest girl from Tuscon, Ariz., to ever show up.”

Even when Guthrie received the news of her promotion, she still didn’t think she’d be able to hold the new position for long. “When they came and it was this controversy in this time, you know, when I was offered the job, I was in tears,” she said. “And it wasn’t because I didn’t dream of this job like everyone else does. It was because I was sure that it wouldn’t last and that I’d be thrown by the wayside within a few weeks or months.”

Savannah Guthrie on ‘Today’.Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

Guthrie’s ascension occurred the day after Curry announced her unceremonious departure from Today in June 2012. Five years later, Matt Lauer, who served as co-host alongside both Curry and Guthrie, was fired from the show following allegations of sexual misconduct.

“I can tell you that I’m not surprised by the allegations,” Curry said in an interview with CBS This Morning in 2018. “I would be surprised if many women [at Today] didn’t understand there was a climate of verbal harassment that existed. It would be surprising if somebody didn’t see that. It was verbal sexual harassment.”

Guthrie said that she’s thrilled to have lasted as long as she has on Today. “I’m so happy that I survived and that I’m still here,” she told Parade. “12 years, 13 years later, I would’ve not believed it, and it’s such a blessing.”