Brooke Nevils Alleges Matt Lauer's Sochi Assault in New Book
To any casual observer, the brief exchange between celebrity TV host Matt Lauer and a junior crew member might have seemed entirely innocuous. However, for Brooke Nevils, the passing comment Lauer made to her in 2016, two years after the alleged incident, reignited a deep-seated trauma she had desperately tried to bury. Nevils describes the warm smile that accompanied his words as "ghoulish" and calculated, a stark reminder of the events she claims unfolded in Sochi, Russia.
The Alleged Assault in Sochi
In 2014, while working on coverage of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Nevils alleges that Lauer, then the Today show's anchor earning $25 million annually, sexually assaulted her. At the time, Nevils was a 29-year-old talent assistant, and Lauer was 57, one of the highest-paid journalists in television history. The alleged rape occurred after Lauer had been buying vodka shots for Nevils and her then-boss, Meredith Vieira, in a hotel bar. Nevils claims the encounter left her bleeding and struggling to walk, a traumatic experience she kept secret for years.
Despite Lauer's consistent denial of any wrongdoing, maintaining that the sexual encounter was consensual, Nevils' accusation during the height of the #MeToo movement led to the collapse of his celebrated career. No criminal charges have been filed against Lauer in connection with these allegations.
Silence and Shame
In her new book, Unspeakable Things: Silence, Shame, and the Stories We Choose to Believe, Nevils explains why she remained silent about the alleged attack for three years, never reporting it to the police and even continuing to meet Lauer for sex for several months afterward. Struggling with overwhelming shame, depression, and fear of losing her job, she turned to alcohol and pills to cope with daily life. She writes, "When life is too painful, alcohol is the most cost-effective escape," highlighting the emotional toll of her silence.
Two years after the alleged assault, while recording Lauer's voiceovers for a documentary, Nevils believed she had become more assertive and no longer felt intimidated by him. However, when Lauer paused and asked, "Weren't you in Sochi?" with a warm grin, she felt instantly devastated. She describes this moment as cutting her "off at the knees," reopening a "bottomless well of shame, humiliation, and self-loathing." This encounter marked the last time she saw Lauer in person.
The Decision to Come Forward
As the #MeToo movement gained momentum in 2017, with accusations against figures like Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby coming to light, Nevils felt compelled to report Lauer to her bosses at NBC. Journalists were beginning to investigate rumors about Lauer, and Nevils feared she would soon be linked to those stories. However, a more poignant reason for her decision emerged after her mother's sudden death from a heart attack in August 2017.
Nevils writes that her mother's passing prompted a profound shift in her perspective. Her mother had left behind a folder titled "For Brooke for comfort in event of my death," containing letters and poems expressing how much Brooke meant to her. This gesture helped Nevils realize she could no longer hate herself or remain silent. She states, "In the face of grief, shame lost its power," and she felt empowered to become the person her mother believed she was.
Financial stability also played a role in her decision; inheriting money from her mother allowed her to pay off debts, making her debt-free for the first time since age 19. With the support of her boyfriend, she felt she had options beyond silence and complicity.
Aftermath and Lauer's Response
On November 29, 2017, the day after Nevils reported Lauer to NBC, he was fired from the Today show. Subsequently, more women came forward with accusations of sexual misconduct against him. In a statement at the time, Lauer acknowledged that some claims were true, expressing embarrassment and shame, while maintaining that other allegations were untrue or mischaracterized.
Last year, reports surfaced that Lauer, now 67, was considering a return to the spotlight, networking with former colleagues to explore new opportunities. A source indicated that he believes he was unfairly treated and still has something to offer in the industry.
Brooke Nevils' book, published by Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House, delves into these experiences, shedding light on the complexities of trauma, silence, and the stories we choose to believe in the wake of alleged assault.
