Unspeakable Things: A Woman's Account of Alleged Assault by Today Show Host Matt Lauer
A new book written by a woman who accused Today show host Matt Lauer of rape sheds light on the alleged assault and subsequent relationship she had with him. Former NBC talent assistant Brooke Nevils disclosed the instances of alleged sexual assault and the evolving relationship she had with Lauer in 2014. In her upcoming book, Unspeakable Things, Nevils recounts how her professional dynamic with Lauer drastically changed during a night out with her boss, Meredith Vieira, when Lauer unexpectedly joined them.
Nevils reveals in her book an incident in Russia during the Winter Olympics where she claims Lauer anally raped her, leading her to hide the bloody sheets in her hotel room. Despite trying to rationalize the encounter, the presence of blood haunted her, making her question the nature of the assault. Lauer denies the allegations, stating the encounter was consensual. Following the incident, Nevils refrained from reporting it due to concerns about phone monitoring and security checks by NBC.
After the alleged assault, Lauer contacted Nevils, creating confusion and self-doubt in her mind. She felt compelled to reassure him, fearing repercussions if she made him feel bad about his actions. Despite attempts to discuss the incident with Lauer via email, he remained unresponsive until they returned to New York. Nevils describes subsequent encounters with Lauer, detailing the emotional turmoil and self-blame she experienced.
As the #MeToo movement gained momentum, Nevils decided to come forward about the alleged assault, leading to Lauer's termination from NBC News. Despite initial reluctance to involve legal counsel, she ultimately prioritized her well-being and spoke out about the incident. The book sheds light on the complexities of power dynamics and personal accountability in cases of alleged sexual misconduct.