Don Lemon defends friend Matt Lauer 7 years after today's shooting

Don Citron is his friend Matt Lauer back after the previous one Today the host of the show was forced to quit his high-profile gig in 2017.

Airing on the Wednesday, January 22 episode of “The Hollywood Raw Podcast with Dax Holt and Adam Glynn,” Lemon, 58, said he believes Lauer, 67, could make a successful return, possibly to the podcast.

“I think if he could get back into digital, he could chart his own course,” he explained, before adding: “But I didn't get to know Matt until after the whole thing happened.”

The former CNN host said he's seen Lauer receive positive reactions from fans in public interactions.

Related: Matt Lauer feels he owes him an apology years after his misconduct scandal

Matt Lauer is 'planning a comeback' years after he was fired from NBC amid sexual misconduct allegations. “He's started talking to people,” a source tells Us Weekly exclusively of the morning show host. “He's planning his next move, is still very upset about how he was portrayed and still feels like (…)

Whenever I see Matt out or, you know, even with us, if we go out to dinner, my husband (Tim MaloneI) goes out to dinner with him and his fiancee, and people love him. Women love him. They're like, “Man, oh my God, can I get a picture? I love you. I miss you on TV. Don't you?” he recalled. “And that's why I think the public loves him. The public misses him, but only the people inside the company are afraid of him.

He added: “There's probably a chance he'll come back, but I think more people involved in the company are concerned about what happened to Matt.”

Lemon said he believes that if it was up to the public instead of the networks and executives, Lauer would have a chance to get back into the public eye.

“I think the public … I'll put it this way. I think the general public would accept – just me – accept Matt back. And I think people would watch him, and I think the ratings would be great.

It's not the first time there have been suggestions of a comeback in the industry. Whispers from a comeback for Lauer became louder in April 2024 when a source told Us Weekly only that the anchor was “planning a comeback” years after he was fired from NBC amid sexual misconduct allegations.

Related: Matt Lauer believes the media can't be trusted after the misconduct scandal

Matt Lauer was the face of NBC before he left and practically disappeared in disgrace. Once one of America's most recognized and highly paid television journalists, “he believes the media can't be trusted,” a source tells Us Weekly. “He was a guy who spent his whole life following people professionally; his work was (…)

“He's started talking to people,” an insider shared with us at the time. “He's planning his next move, is still very upset about how he was portrayed and still feels like a victim.”

Among many other high-profile men involved in the #MeToo movement, former Today the host hit the headlines in November 2017 after a female colleague accused her of inappropriate behavior. He was eventually fired that same month following the allegations. In 2019, journalist Ronan Farrow published information about the alleged attack in his book Catch and Kill. Lauer has denied all the allegations against him.