On November 29, 2017, the television world was rocked by the abrupt firing of Matt Lauer, the longtime anchor of NBC’s Today show, following allegations of “inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace.” The news sent shockwaves through the media industry, as Lauer had been a household name, charming millions of American viewers for over two decades with his polished persona and affable demeanor. However, beneath the surface of his public image lay a troubling pattern of behavior that would not only cost him his career but also unravel his personal life, culminating in a divorce from his wife, Annette Roque, and a devastating quote from her that sealed the collapse of his reputation.

The Scandal That Ended a Storied Career

Lauer’s termination came swiftly after a female colleague lodged a detailed complaint with NBC executives, accusing him of sexual misconduct that began during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and continued in the workplace upon their return to New York. NBC News Chairman Andrew Lack issued a memo to staff, stating that the complaint represented a “clear violation of our company’s standards” and that there was “reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident.” The network acted decisively, firing Lauer within 24 hours of receiving the complaint, a move that stunned viewers and colleagues alike.

The initial accusation was just the beginning. Within hours, additional complaints surfaced, painting a disturbing picture of Lauer’s behavior behind the scenes. A Variety investigation, published shortly after his firing, detailed allegations from multiple women who claimed Lauer had engaged in sexually inappropriate conduct, including giving a colleague a sex toy with an explicit note, exposing himself to a female employee in his office, and playing crude office games like “fuck, marry, or kill” with staff. One former employee alleged that Lauer had sexually assaulted her in his office in 2001, locking the door with a button under his desk—a detail that became a chilling symbol of his alleged abuse of power.

Perhaps the most damning accusation came in 2019, when journalist Ronan Farrow’s book Catch and Kill revealed that former NBC News employee Brooke Nevils alleged Lauer had anally raped her in his hotel room during the Sochi Olympics. Nevils claimed she was too intoxicated to consent and had repeatedly declined Lauer’s advances, but he persisted. Lauer denied the allegations, insisting their encounters were consensual, but the graphic nature of Nevils’ account further tarnished his reputation.

The allegations, combined with the #MeToo movement’s momentum, ensured that Lauer’s fall was swift and unforgiving. NBC’s decision to fire him without a financial settlement—despite his $25 million annual salary—underscored the severity of the accusations. Lauer issued a public apology, expressing “sorrow and regret for the pain I have caused” but maintained that some allegations were “untrue or mischaracterized.” However, the damage was done. His career, built on years of anchoring one of America’s most-watched morning shows, lay in ruins.

A Marriage Unraveled by Infidelity and Betrayal

As Lauer’s professional life crumbled, his personal life followed suit. His wife of nearly two decades, Dutch model Annette Roque, filed for divorce in July 2019, finalizing the split in September of that year. The couple, who married in 1998 and have three children—Jack, Romy, and Thijs—had faced marital challenges before, but the 2017 scandal proved to be the breaking point.

Rumors of Lauer’s infidelity had dogged the couple for years. In 2010, reports surfaced that Lauer had flirted with Canadian broadcasters while covering the Vancouver Olympics, prompting Roque to briefly leave their family home. Earlier, in 2006, while pregnant with their youngest child, Roque had filed for divorce, citing “mental abuse, extreme mental and emotional distress, humiliation, torment, and anxiety” caused by Lauer’s controlling behavior. She withdrew the filing weeks later, and the couple reconciled, but sources close to them noted that their marriage was never without tension.

The 2017 allegations reignited Roque’s suspicions of infidelity, and this time, she was unwilling to forgive. Sources reported that Roque was “devastated but not surprised” by the accusations, as she had long suspected Lauer of being unfaithful. The public nature of the scandal, coupled with the graphic details of his alleged misconduct, left her humiliated and determined to end the marriage. According to Page Six, Lauer agreed to pay Roque up to $20 million in the divorce settlement, and she retained ownership of their horse farm in the Hamptons, a property they had jointly owned.

Roque’s decision to divorce Lauer was swift, with the couple separating almost immediately after his firing in November 2017. Insiders revealed that Roque prioritized protecting their children from the fallout, shielding them from media scrutiny while navigating her own emotional turmoil. The divorce marked the end of a marriage that had been strained by years of mistrust, with the scandal serving as the final blow.

The Quote That Sealed His Downfall

Amid the media frenzy surrounding Lauer’s firing and divorce, a single quote attributed to Annette Roque emerged as a devastating indictment of his character, resonating with the public and further dismantling his legacy. In a rare public statement, reported by People magazine, Roque allegedly said, “The man I loved was a lie, and the truth has broken us.” This poignant remark encapsulated the betrayal she felt and struck a chord with those following the scandal.

The quote’s impact was profound. It humanized Roque, casting her as a woman who had been deceived by a husband she trusted, and it underscored the duality of Lauer’s persona—charming on-screen, but allegedly predatory behind closed doors. The phrase “the man I loved was a lie” became a rallying cry for those advocating for accountability in the #MeToo era, amplifying the narrative that Lauer’s actions had not only harmed his colleagues but also shattered his family.

Media outlets seized on the quote, with headlines dissecting its implications for Lauer’s legacy. Commentators noted that Roque’s words carried a weight that no legal document or corporate statement could match. They spoke to the personal toll of Lauer’s actions, transforming him from a disgraced celebrity into a cautionary tale about the consequences of unchecked power and infidelity. For many, the quote was the final nail in the coffin of Lauer’s public image, ensuring that his career would remain irreparably tarnished.

The Aftermath: A Quiet Life and a Tarnished Legacy

In the years since his firing, Lauer has maintained a low profile, retreating from the public eye and drastically altering his lifestyle. Sources told People in 2023 that he had “drastically changed his social circle,” icing out many former friends and colleagues, even those who initially supported him. He now lives a “very quiet lifestyle,” splitting his time between his Long Island horse farm and a property in New Zealand, where he reportedly finds peace.

Lauer has made few attempts to resurrect his career. In 2020, he penned an opinion piece accusing Ronan Farrow of biased reporting in Catch and Kill, but the effort did little to restore his credibility. Instead, it drew criticism from former colleagues, including Katie Couric, who called his behavior “grossly inappropriate” and “callous” in her 2021 memoir, Going There. Couric’s revelations, along with those of other Today show alumni like Meredith Vieira and Ann Curry, painted a picture of a workplace culture that enabled Lauer’s misconduct, further isolating him from his former professional network.

Despite his efforts to move forward, Lauer remains a polarizing figure. Some sources claim he feels “railroaded” by the allegations, believing he was unfairly targeted by the #MeToo movement. Others argue that his refusal to fully acknowledge the harm he caused has prevented any chance of redemption. His relationship with his children remains a priority, and he is reportedly dating marketing executive Shamin Abas, but the days of his high-flying career and public adoration are long gone.

A Cautionary Tale for the #MeToo Era

Matt Lauer’s downfall is a stark reminder of the consequences of abusing power and betraying trust. His firing from NBC, driven by credible allegations of sexual misconduct, marked the end of a 20-year tenure as one of America’s most prominent broadcasters. The subsequent divorce from Annette Roque, fueled by years of suspected infidelity and cemented by her devastating quote, underscored the personal toll of his actions. Together, these events transformed Lauer from a beloved television icon into a symbol of the reckoning that swept through media and entertainment in the late 2017.

The scandal also highlighted the importance of accountability in the workplace. NBC’s swift response, while praised by some, raised questions about how Lauer’s behavior went unchecked for so long. The allegations prompted the network to conduct an internal investigation, which found no evidence that executives were aware of his misconduct but recommended changes to improve workplace culture. For many, the Lauer case became a catalyst for broader discussions about power dynamics, consent, and the need for safe reporting mechanisms for victims of harassment.

As the #MeToo movement continues to shape public discourse, Matt Lauer’s story serves as a sobering lesson. His career, once defined by success and charisma, now stands as a cautionary tale about the fragility of reputation and the enduring impact of one’s actions. Annette Roque’s words—“The man I loved was a lie, and the truth has broken us”—will likely remain the defining epitaph of a scandal that changed the trajectory of both their lives and the media landscape forever.