Is Natalie Morales "snubbed enough" to leave Today?

Jul 10, 2012 10:35 AM by Michelle Leach

Posted in Entertainment / Television

Claims "Passed Over" For Plum Co-Host Gig

It was all smiles as Savannah Guthrie started the week in her new role as Today co-host alongside Matt Lauer. But Ann Curry apparently didn't take the-behind-the-scenes drama with her when she was ousted from the plum co-host gig.

Natalie Morales snubbed

A name we didn't hear a lot during the whole Ann Curry debacle was "Natalie Morales."

The 40-year-old journalist joined Today in 2006.

She took over as the show's news anchor when Curry vacated the position to host alongside Matt Lauer in June 2011.

Now, as Savannah Guthrie succeeds Curry as co-host, Morales may be eyeing the door.

Morales is reportedly none-too-happy about being "passed over" for the plum role.

Some uncomfortable déjà vu

Reportedly, Morales believes she has been passed over not once, but twice.

RadarOnline claims the first time blood started to boil was back in 2011, when popular host Meredith Vieira left and Curry replaced her.

Apparently, Morales thought the gig was hers — so you can imagine how that is going over, now that she's been allegedly snubbed a second time around.

But there's more…

RadarOnline is also reporting that Matt Lauer's wife may have had something to do with Morales not getting promoted.

Allegedly, Lauer and Morales have been a little too friendly as co-workers.

Lauer's wife, Dutch model Annette Roque, was reportedly not down with the prospect that her husband's mistress would be his on-air sidekick as well.

And, you may recall, Matt has long been at the center of cheating scandals.

In fact, it's been widely reported that Roque almost left the veteran TV host over the following alleged trysts:

-- In 2000, two years after their wedding

-- In 2006, over supposed hanky-panky at the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy

-- In 2010, this time over alleged indiscretions at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver

If this is true, NBC, please keep this guy away from impending Olympics coverage from here on out!

Apparently, Lauer's wife of 14 years threatened to leave again if Morales was named Curry's replacement.

As if these details aren't enough, RadarOnline also reports that Lauer fathered a child with Morales.

The Today hosts have denied the affair rumors.

In fact, Morales was very open about her "happy marriage" when it was first announced she would be a contributor for the short-lived show The Marriage Ref.

Do you think there is more to Natalie's "snub" than meets the eye? Or is she just not right for the co-host gig?

Image courtesy of FayesVision/WENN.com

Tags: matt lauer natalie morales savannah guthrie today show

Comments

Comments on "Is Natalie Morales "snubbed enough" to leave Today ?"

I miss Ann Curry ...wish they had never fired her..get rid of Matt Lauer Mr High and all mighty...and where did Savannah come from??? Please put Katie C back and Ann and get rid of all the other clowns...before you lose more viewers..And Al start acting your age its ok to kid around once in a while but act your age not your shoe size...

I am in Australia and watch Today every day. I never liked Ann so wasn't sad to see her go, I think that Natalie would have been a better fit than Savannah (even though she is Aussie). As for Matt well I think he is the prime reason the ratings are slipping.

i think nbc sucks-- i have always watched the today, since dave garroway--i am 66 yrs old now and have quit watching the today show since ann left. have no respect for nbc and especially matt. what an idoit--any one who wound want him to head a program are stupid. ann was awsome and just a wonderful person, and natalie--what a joke. why would nbc want this kind of scandle. eventually the today show will fall and that will be the happiest day of my life.

I love Natalie! She is smart and pretty! Matt has the ego! Really the Today show needs to find someone new because a breath of fresh air is badly needed! Ann was not a good person for that job in the first place anyone could see that! I love Lara on GAA.

I am glad Natalie got passed over. She is a horrible reporter. She doesn't fit, and looks like she doesn't belong there. She is awkward. I also have switched to GMA. I was a long time today show watcher! No more! The show has no more class. So sad:(. I felt so bad for the way they treated Ann Curry. Very low! The show needs a total overhaul to ever get back again! Good luck NBC!

Its the same old Jane Pauley/Debra Norville thing. Natalie needs to keep an eye on Savannah as she is a greedy big backstabber. Ann Curry did not need to be fired and then for her to have to announce her firing as she did, was to humiliate her. Matt sat there like a damn bump on a log, then had the freakin' nerve to pat her on the back, saying we will miss you. What a phony & liar. I have watched the Today Show since its inception but the day after Ann left, we switched to GMA and will stay there. They have made a monumental mistake and will pay for it.

She's totally fake. She's a good news reader. But she doesn't need to do anything else on the show. Matt, Al, and Savannah have a good chemistry, and Natalie always tries too hard to fit into that chemisty and steal the spotlight. I usually change the channel when Natalie is stealing airtime. Would have preferred to see her go instead of Ann.

The "TODAY" show will now be referenced as The "TOMORROW" show. Matt is a creep, Savannah is so phony, I only watched her debut for 5 minutes and switched to GMA, which by the way is a great show. If I were Natalie and Al, I would get the "?"?" outta there. The show is so FAKE, PHONY, and with ANN CURRY removed, there is absoulutely NO CLASS. NBC you should be ashamed of yourselves to let a WEISEL (MATT LAUER) call the shots, I hope and pray that NBC continues to drop in the ratings and will applaud everyday that I see NBC SINK........

The ego on Natalie is disgusting. She isnt talented. She is horible on air. She has no sense of humour, and horrible chemistry with Willie Geist. And if you can't work with him. Then you certainly can't work with that adulterer Lauer. She needs to realize that she got lucky to get that job. She didnt get it bc she was qualified deserved it. She got it bc she's pretty. There are tons of unattractive women, way more qualified than her. She needs a reality check. She is super expendable, and if she leaves, they will have no problem replacing her. I'm glad she was passed over. You can tell she's the type of person who always got everything in life. Natalie, youve got a good gig going, your making more money than you deserve, so stop complaining.

SORRY THAT NATALIE DIDN'T GET THE CO-HOST POSITION,, SHE'S A JOY TO SEE EVERY DAY, TO BAD MATT'S WIFE MESSED IT UP.. MAYBE SHE'LL GET A CHANCE YET,, HANG IN THERE NATALIE...

I was very disappointed to learn that Natalie was not to be the new co-host ofToday. Guthrie is not in any way as refined and polished as Natalie plus she has been with Today for many years. Guthrie is very Awkard in many situations onToday. This is probably why Guthrie was hired. I for one will not continue to watch the Today show and I hope many others will do the same. This is just another stupid action of NBC.

I think Natalie should get the position-she has the personality-on air presence-and I love seeing her over anybody else.

they should've given the job to natalie. matt should tell his wife to take a hike if thats the way she feels. She not in the same league as natalie anyway. It would be a huge upgrade for Matt if true. but she's a better host the guthrie in the end and shouldn't be punished because Mtts wife is insecure.