For several days now, there has been a lot of speculation on whether Ann Curry was done as co-host of NBC's The Today Show, a job she took up one year ago when Meredith Vieira handed in her resignation. Below is Curry's goodbye from Today.
She confirmed the news in an interview with USA Today, saying whoever leaked information to the press about the reasons of her departure had hurt her terribly.
That is plain to see in the video below as well.
Curry will remain with NBC for a salary estimated at $20 million (€15.9 million) and she's believed to have negotiated a payout of $10 million (€7.95 million) to be let out of her contract, which wouldn't have expired for another year.
Nevertheless, the pain of saying goodbye proved too much for her, and she was hardly able to fight back tears while telling the people at home this was her last day as co-host of the morning show.
“This is not as I expected to ever leave this couch after 15 years, but I am so grateful, especially to all of you who watch because Matt and I – and everyone who sits on this couch – we often call ourselves a family, but YOU are the real Today show family,” she said.
“I will be missing you and I love all of you and for those of you who saw me as a ground breaker, I'm sorry I couldn't take the ball to the finish line – but man, I did try,” Curry added.
In the days before her confirmation that she was out, reports said Lauer had been instrumental in getting her fired because he believed they had no chemistry and partly blamed her for the dip in ratings Today took over the past year, losing out to direct rival Good Morning America.
“I have loved you and I have wanted to give you the world, and I still do. I don't even know if I can sleep in anymore after all these years! But I know that whatever time I wake up, I'll be missing you,” Curry said.
“And I'll be believing in you. I love all of you, especially all of you who are behind the scenes, behind the cameras,” she added.
Anne Curry is now Today show anchor-at-large and NBC News national / international correspondent, and will travel the world with a team of her choosing, reporting on various events.
She will also act as producer on NBC Nightly News, Dateline and Today.
It stinks!!!! She has been one of the few to weather the storm and we could count on her to be consisitent. She was one of the first to make us aware of locks of love- little did I know I would have cancer in a few short years. Fortunately I did not lose all my hair. She travelled the world and did whatever was she was asked to fill. I always watched the Today show , even as a hippified teenager. I always respected NBC overall. But after Jay Leno was allowed to rule nighttime TV and now Matt Lauer can dictate daytime TV ; like so many others-NBC will be the channel alternate when nobody else is interesting. Hmmmm-lots of choices- thank goodness for cable. As we continue to see, longevity and loyalty is no longer a plus. Personally Matt Lauer has been the boring part of this show. Sorry to see Ann Curry to leave, she will be missed.
Linda G.
58 yr old retiree
Comment #2 by: kmacelhone on 29 Jun 2012, 16:26 UTC
I think after all the years and work Ann has put into this job you people along with Matt Lauer are just greedy bastard. For the last two years I have felt Matt Lauer comes across as a know it all smirkey idot.
Comment #3 by: Florida Girl on 29 Jun 2012, 18:27 UTC
I think Matt Lauer is a * and seems to be hartless. Ann Curry was an everyday person as we all are and she did an excellent job of anchoring the news. Sooooooooo I will switch to Good Morning America. Florida Girl
I think that what NBC did to Ann Curry was unforgivable - all for ratings???
She is and will always be one of the most courageous, caring reporters I have ever seen - and has gone to places most reporters woujldn't have the nerve to go to get the right story out to the people. Shame on you NBC - I think instead of gaining viewers you have just lost quite a few.
Ann, it was not you who should have left, it was Matt. It was so obvious from the moment you appeared with him that he was rude, cold, not even looking at you. He was totally the one who should have left and not you. So sorry, as you have so much class, poise, grace and goodness in you and Matt, he did not give you a warm welcome. It was so obvious on TV as a viewer that he was not a bit friendly to you, almost looking mad. Now he is all smiles. But the ratings have not gone up. You were not the cause of the bad ratings. Shame on you Matt Lauer for being a real * to Ann Curry. You need to leave the show for the ratings to go up. God Bless you Ann--You are a class act!! Be proud!! and be glad you are not working with the * .
Comment #8 by: PGH PA GIRL on 12 Jul 2012, 22:06 UTC
Ann you are the best !!! I loved watching you and hope to see ya again soon ! Things happen for a reason so look at this as an opportunity not as a set back. Not that what happened to you was right or just, but a little comment my mom tells me is... remember every dog gets their day.......love ya Ann see ya soon PGH PA GIRL !
shame on you mattL ANNE Curry was why i watched and i was glad to see that the network finally had guts to give that title to a woman of color....She was the only "real" non phony there.Who wants to watch news from arrogant news people and a bumbling clown weatherman
I am done with you NBC. I have watched every day since the beginning of the Today show and Ann Curry brought dignity and warmth as well as deeper thinking on issues of interest to women. You can take all your snippets of fashion and cooking in this time of crisis and have Matt take them to the river and jump in with them. ABC will get my attention from now on.
Comment #13 by: Dissapointed on 31 Aug 2012, 18:27 UTC
You will be missed Ann. You were why I watched the today show. But I dont watch it now. That was dirty what the mongrel NBC did to you. And that coke head Matt is losing it big time. Shine on Ann...things will get better, and like another poster said...at least you don't have to sit next to that fake Matt L.
Shame on you Today show for firing Ann, she is the heart of your show, how can you let your Audience down in this way, If your ratings are down it certainly is not because of her... I no longer watch the today show because of your action against her.
i will not watch the today as long matt and savannah are on the show i will watch gma and who does matt think he is he acts likes a young * who destroyed the today show him and savannah you had better do something fast before it is to late
She never should have been promoted in the first place! She never was the quality of the co-host and was overlooked thankfully the first two times. I've been watching since Dave Garroway and she was the person who made me stop watching. Once she was gone and Savannah Guthrie added, I began to watch again. I refuse to watch anything that puts her in the limelight; she comes across so "fake".
Comment #20 by: srg in rhode island on 29 Dec 2012, 09:29 UTC
I THINK ITS TIME TO CHANGE MATT,YOU SHOULD JOIN THE MILLIONS OF MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE AND SEE WHAT ITS LIKE . IF YOU TO BE A CONTROL FREEK JOIN THE MILATARY THRY WILL MAKE YOU WAKE UP REALLY QUICK TREAT PEOPLE THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE TREATED.
What a gracious woman Ann Curry is, thank-you for your true genuineness.
Thank-you Ann Curry for YOU, you are such a graceful person......You are my hero........
They chose the wrong person to go, I know you will be else where doing great things, and from this fan, you will be missed. Looking forward to seeing you whenever we can.......Blessings, Kenda K. Shafer/Santa Maria, CA
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