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Kathie Lee Gifford: Matt Lauer Would Be ‘The First’ To Congratulate Hoda On New Today Show Gig

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Kathie Lee Gifford claims that Matt Lauer would be “the first” to congratulate Hoda Kotb on her new role as co-host of NBC’s “Today,” according to an interview published Tuesday.

Gifford spoke out about her feelings regarding colleague and former co-host Hoda Kotb, who will move onto Lauer’s spot with Savannah Guthrie, in an interview with People Magazine

“I feel happy for her because she is having the greatest year of her life, and if she’s happy, I’m happy for her,” said Gifford. However, she also acknowledged how difficult it is that NBC fired Lauer following accusations of sexually assaulting an MSNBC employee during coverage for the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games.

“The whole thing with Matt is not something we want to get into. We love this man, and we are heartbroken about him being gone. Our sense of joy is tempered by our sense of loss,” Gifford told People.

Lauer reportedly had a button under his desk to lock his door so that he could allegedly harass women in private by exposing his genitals and pressuring the women for sex. An accuser claims Lauer reprimanded her after she refused to have sex with him. Another woman claims that Lauer raped her in his office until she passed out.

Giffords added that “nobody wants to profit off of someone’s pain,” although she did not clarify whether she meant Lauer or his alleged victims.

Megyn Kelly also tweeted her support for Kotb’s new role.

Lauer was fired Nov. 29. Savannah Guthrie and Kotb said they were “heartbroken” on “Today” following his firing.

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