After years of quiet resilience, marked by the sting of public humiliation and private anguish, Ann Curry has finally shattered her silence. In a bombshell interview that has sent ripples through the media world, the former Today show co-anchor confirmed what whispers in newsrooms had long suspected: she was “not surprised” by the avalanche of sexual misconduct allegations that toppled her one-time colleague, Matt Lauer. Curry’s revelations peel back the curtain on a pervasive culture of verbal harassment at NBC, where the glamour of live broadcasts masked a darker reality of power imbalances and unchecked behavior.

It was June 2012 when Curry’s tenure on Today ended in a tearful on-air farewell that captivated and crushed viewers alike. Co-hosting alongside Lauer since 2011, she had risen through NBC’s ranks over nearly 25 years, from foreign correspondent to morning show staple. But behind the scenes, tensions simmered. Ratings dipped, and rumors swirled that Lauer, a network powerhouse earning millions, had orchestrated her ouster due to a lack of on-screen chemistry. Curry’s departure wasn’t just a professional gut punch; it was a spectacle of vulnerability, with her voice cracking as she bid adieu to colleagues, many of whom now face scrutiny for what they knew—or ignored.

Fast-forward to November 2017: Lauer’s abrupt firing by NBC stunned the industry. A colleague’s complaint unearthed evidence of “inappropriate sexual behavior,” unleashing a torrent of accusations. Women described a pattern of predatory actions—lewd comments, unwanted advances, even assaults in private offices disguised as “meetings.” One accuser alleged rape during the 2014 Sochi Olympics coverage; others recounted gifts of sex toys and button-activated office doors for illicit encounters. Lauer, in a public apology, admitted to making “mistakes” but denied the gravest claims, insisting some were “inaccurate.” Yet, the damage was irreparable, ending his two-decade reign as a trusted face of American mornings.

Curry’s voice emerges now as a clarion call from that era’s shadows. In her CBS This Morning sit-down—her first TV interview since leaving NBC—she spoke with measured candor. “I am not surprised by the allegations,” she stated flatly, her words carrying the weight of unspoken experience. Probing deeper, host Norah O’Donnell asked about verbal sexual harassment at the network. Curry paused, then affirmed: “Yes. Period.” She elaborated that a “climate of verbal harassment” was so entrenched that “many women” would attest to it, painting a picture of an environment where crude jokes and innuendos were normalized, eroding trust and safety.

This wasn’t hearsay for Curry. In 2012, she had acted on a colleague’s confidential plea, approaching NBC executives to warn them about Lauer’s troubling interactions with women. “I told management they had a problem,” she later revealed, protecting her source’s identity while naming Lauer explicitly. Believing the staffer who confided in her about physical harassment, Curry sought intervention—only to find herself sidelined months later. Speculation persists that her whistleblowing contributed to her firing, a theory bolstered by reports in Ronan Farrow’s Catch and Kill, which exposed NBC’s broader failures in addressing misconduct.

Curry’s story transcends personal vindication; it’s a microcosm of the #MeToo reckoning that upended media titans. She expresses “outrage” at the tolerance of such abuses and “tremendous empathy” for victims, refusing to gloat over Lauer’s downfall. “I’m not a vengeful person,” she told People, emphasizing her aversion to further humiliation. Instead, she channels pain into purpose, hosting PBS’s We’ll Meet Again to reunite families torn by history’s wounds—a poignant counterpoint to her own fractured NBC legacy.

As 2025 dawns, Curry’s candor reignites debates on accountability. NBC has since implemented training and reporting hotlines, but scars linger. Her interview isn’t closure; it’s a catalyst, urging the industry to confront its ghosts. In a world still grappling with power’s perils, Ann Curry reminds us: silence may heal temporarily, but truth endures.