- Matt Lauer, born Matthew Todd Lauer, is a former American television news anchor.
- Lauer was formerly married to Nancy Alspaugh, an Emmy-winning television producer.
- They hit it off and soon began dating.
- Lauer and Roque were expecting their third child in 2006.
Matt Lauer, born Matthew Todd Lauer, is a former American television news anchor. He rose to prominence as a result of his work with several media outlets, primarily NBC News.
From 1994 to 1997, he was The Today Show’s news anchor, and in 1997, he was promoted to co-host.
Since he served as the show’s co-host until his contract was terminated by NBC in 2017 due to sexual allegations against him.
Lauer’s well-established professional life began to crumble after he was accused of sexual misconduct.
And the same thing began to happen in his personal life.
However, it could be argued that his personal life was not always on track. Here’s a closer look!
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Nancy Alspaugh was Matt Lauer’s first wife
Lauer was formerly married to Nancy Alspaugh, an Emmy-winning television producer.
So it’s safe to say that Alspaugh is Lauer’s first wife.
The previously married couple first met in 1980 and started dating in 1981.
They exchanged wedding vows the next year, on July 17, 1982, in a small ceremony.
Their marriage, however, did not last long, as they divorced six years later in 1988 – their divorce was formalized the same year.
Furthermore, the couple had yet to have children in their marriage.
Despite their divorce, Lauer and Alspaugh appear to have maintained a close relationship.
Moreover, Alspaugh defended her ex-husband when he was accused of sexual harassment.
In an interview with Entertainment Online in 2018, she stated:
I don’t believe he was given an opportunity to defend himself, and I hope he will be allowed to tell his story soon.
I’m confident it’ll happen soon. He is regaining his sense of self, and people will finally hear his side of the story.
Alspaugh married Fox Sports Net executive H.
Read Jackson after they divorced.
They had adopted a boy called Wyatt Jackson, who was diagnosed with Autism at the age of three.
Alspaugh became a widow on January 25, 2016, after her second husband died of cancer after a long and difficult struggle. She has been raising her son as a single mother since then.
Annette Roque was Matt Lauer’s second wife
Almost a decade after his divorce from his first wife, Lauer met his eventual second wife, a Dutch model called Annette Roque, on a blind date in July 1997.
They hit it off and soon began dating.
Lauer was ready to propose to his then-girlfriend Roque five months into their relationship; Roque said yes, and they were engaged.
And on October 3, 1998, in Bridgehampton, New York, they exchanged wedding vows.
On June 26, 2001, less than three years after their marriage, the couple welcomed their first child, a son named Jack Matthew Lauer.
Similarly, Roque gave birth to their second child, Romy Lauer, on October 2, 2003.
Lauer and Roque were expecting their third child in 2006.
Roque had filed for divorce from Lauer at the time, citing “mental abuse, significant mental and emotional suffering, humiliation, torture, and worry.”
They appeared to have repaired their relationship, however, when Roque withdrew her divorce papers.
On November 28, 2006, the almost-divorced couple welcomed a boy named Thijs Lauer into their household.
After that, everything looked to be fine between the married couple, and things seemed to be getting back on track.
However, Roque’s divorce suit prompted questions about Lauer’s loyalty to his wife and their marriage.
In 2010, there were reports that Lauer had moved out of his house and was having an extramarital affair.
Lauer later disputed these rumors in an interview with People, calling them “stupid” and “offensive.”
Furthermore, he stated, “Have we had a perfectly wonderful, simple marriage?” No.
However, the stories you’ve heard throughout the years are false.
I don’t think we’re any different than any other 12-year-married couple.”
“The allegations [of infidelity] are ludicrous, and I will not [dignify] them with an answer.”
“It’s not true,” he clarified.
Furthermore, Roque was questioned separately by the publication, and during her interview, she revealed that they had troubles in their marriage in the past, but they “worked through it.”
After suspicions of Lauer having an affair with his former Today co-anchor Natalie Morales surfaced in July 2016, it was once again claimed that he was disloyal to Roque.
And, just like the last time, the rumors were rejected.
“Every component of this story is wrong,” Lauer stated in an interview with The New York Post.
“It’s just awful that someone would tell lies to harm everyone involved.”
“There is absolutely no truth to this extremely ridiculous narrative,” Morales continued.
“It is destructive, hateful, and highly sexist,” she continued.
I’ve shown myself in every element of my career as a news professional and journalist, and I’m expanding my responsibilities by taking on three positions with Access Hollywood Live and Access Hollywood, in addition to Today.”
“This relocation was motivated by my ambition to advance in my work.”
“Anything beyond that is misinformed,” Morales finished her account.
Matt Lauer is sacked from the Today show following claims of sexual misconduct
On November 29, 2017, Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb, co-hosts of the Today show, announced on-air that Lauer had been fired from the media network after being accused of sexual misconduct by an unidentified female NBC employee.
Similarly, the memo issued by NBC News chairman Andrew Lack to other employees stated, “On Monday night, we received a detailed complaint from a colleague regarding inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace by Matt Lauer.”
Matt Lauer was sacked from NBC’s “Today” show four years ago today, following a sexual misconduct complaint. pic.twitter.com/1Km9pU52Jx
“…While this is the first complaint about his behavior in over 20 years at NBC News, we were also given reason to believe this was not an isolated incident.”
It was stated that the unidentified female NBC employee had reported sexual misbehavior by Lauer at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, which continued even after they landed in New York.
Furthermore, according to a Variety article, three more unidentified women have come forward to claim that Lauer sexually assaulted them.
After three days of silence, Lauer issued an official statement in which he apologized to his loved ones.
Former NBC producer Brooke Nevils said in Ronan Farrow’s book, Catch and Kill, in October 2019 that Lauer “anally raped” her while they worked together at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Lauer, on the other hand, disputed all charges, saying, “Each act was mutual and consenting.”
Matt Lauer’s ex-wife Annette Roque has filed for divorce
Following his sexual misconduct accusation, allegations surfaced that he and his second wife were already living apart.
“Matt and Annette lived separately, with Matt spending many nights in his Manhattan apartment,” a source told Entertainment Tonight at the time.
After Lauer’s sexual misconduct claims were made public, Roque found it difficult to even stroll around in public. “As time passed, the shame gave way to rage.”
“Their marriage was horrible for the last two years,” a source told ET.
It was discovered in December 2017 that both Lauer and Roque had ceased wearing their wedding rings.
Roque’s father, Henri, told DailyMail at the time, “She is not going to stay with him and work it out.”
They are not working together to solve the problem.”
Finally, after months of conjecture, Roque filed for divorce from Lauer in Suffolk County Court in New York on July 2, 2019.
On September 5, their divorce was completed.
According to sources, Roque gained approximately $20 million in divorce assets and was also handed the now-former couple’s Hamptons horse estate in Water Mill.
And, more than a month after their divorce was finalized, Roque finally responded to the allegations leveled against her ex-husband.
Her lawyer told People on October 9 that she is focusing on her three children.
“In response to your inquiry, our client has requested that we inform you that now that the couple has separated, her main and exclusive concern is for their amazing children.”
“Our client will make no additional statements,” stated Roque’s lawyer, John M. Teitler.
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What is Matt Lauer up to these days?
Lauer appears to be keeping a low profile for the time being and is currently residing in an undisclosed place after losing everything in 2017 and the months that followed.
Lauer may not have a wife right now, but he enjoys the company of his lovely girlfriend, Shamin Abas.
Abas is a marketing and public relations executive who operates a luxury brand marketing agency.
Before taking their friendship on a romantic turn, the now-dating pair had known each other for more than a decade.
They started dating in December 2019 and have been together ever then.
“Matt and Shamin have known one other for many years, as she spends a lot of time in the Hamptons, as does he,” a source close to Lauer told Page Six at the time.
They have recently started dating; she is a great lady.”
The couple was spotted together in August 2021 at a country-themed gathering in the Hamptons, where Lauer’s second ex-wife was also present.
Nonetheless, the formerly married pair never met.