Prominent TV anchors Megyn Kelly, Gretchen Carlson and Greta Van Susteren are among those who have written a letter imploring Comcast bigwigs to launch an independent investigation into sexual misconduct allegations at NBC News.
The letter — dated Thursday and signed by Kelly, Carlson and Van Susteren as well as former CNN producer Eleanor McManus, former NBC News and Fox News anchor Linda Vester and former NBC News producer Addie Zinone — is in response to NBCUniversal announcing Thursday that it wouldn’t conduct an additional probe into accusations against Matt Lauer.
“Comcast must prove to its shareholders that it will pursue the truth on behalf of NBC staffers,” the women write to Comcast’s board of directors and chairman and CEO Brian Roberts. “If necessary, it should remove executives who have abused or silenced women.”
They demand Comcast hire an outside, independent law firm to investigate reports of Lauer’s “years of predatory behavior toward female colleagues” and “cover-ups” involving top executives at the Peacock Network.
“According to the book [‘Catch and Kill’ by Ronan Farrow], NBC News Chairman Andy Lack and MSNBC President Phil Griffin also have a record of sexually harassing female subordinates. NBC News President Noah Oppenheim boasted about objectifying women while at Harvard University,” the letter says. “Are these the men you want running a news network reliant on the FCC for license renewal?”
They also called on Comcast, which owns NBCUniversal, to make NBC “declare that all current and former employees may seek waivers from their non-disclosure agreements in any sexual misconduct cases so that they can speak freely and publicly.”
On Wednesday, Kelly, a former NBC News and Fox News anchor, and Vester, who accused the network’s Tom Brokaw of sexual harassment last year, made similar pleas for an outside probe.
But NBC is refusing to budge.
“There is no additional investigation being launched. We are very confident in the report that was conducted,” spokeswoman Hilary Smith told The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday.