Graphic New Account Emerges in Matt Lauer Assault Allegations
Brooke Nevils, a former NBC talent assistant, has published a deeply distressing and detailed article containing new allegations about an encounter with former Today show host Matt Lauer. The piece, released by The Cut on Wednesday, provides harrowing first-person testimony six years after Nevils was first named in Ronan Farrow's 2019 investigative book Catch and Kill.
The 2014 Sochi Olympics Incident
Nevils describes waking up half-naked in Lauer's hotel room during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia, with "the sheet beneath me caked with blood." She alleges the assault occurred after celebrating with her then-boss, Meredith Vieira, who had become the first female anchor to cover the Olympics in primetime. According to Nevils, Lauer joined them for a drink at the hotel bar hours before the alleged attack, with her writing that "Nothing would ever be the same again."
The account details how Nevils attempted to conceal evidence, stating: "I pulled the blood‑streaked sheets off the bed and piled them in the corner so that the maid would not see the blood. I wadded my bloody underwear into a ball and threw it away." Despite bleeding, she continued her work duties as if "nothing happened."
Power Dynamics and Psychological Impact
Nevils writes extensively about the power imbalance she faced, noting that Lauer's stature as the face of NBC News created an environment where "his point of view was reality, and if you disagreed with it, you were wrong." She felt isolated in Russia, surrounded only by NBC employees whose careers were "dependent upon Matt's success."
The psychological toll became severe, with Nevils eventually requiring hospitalization. "I ended up in a psych ward," she writes, "believing myself so worthless and damaged that the world would be better off without me." She describes internalizing messages that "Good girls don't make a fuss," which prevented her from speaking out sooner.
Subsequent Encounters and Complaint
According to the article, Nevils maintained contact with Lauer after returning to the United States, meeting at his New York apartment where she claims he watched her drink vodka while he abstained. She writes: "The shame flooded over me as I drank, realizing uncomfortably late that Matt was not drinking anything at all but watching me intently."
Nevils submitted a formal complaint to NBC in 2017, which triggered an internal investigation leading to Lauer's abrupt termination. The network stated at the time that it had received "a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior" and had "reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident."
Conflicting Accounts and Legal Status
Matt Lauer has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining through a 2019 statement that the encounter was consensual and marked the beginning of an affair. He has never been charged with any crime related to these allegations. Nevils acknowledges her complicated position, writing: "I was no Ashley Judd or Gretchen Carlson. I was just one woman and nobody's ideal victim. I'd done everything wrong."
She credits Meredith Vieira as a "mentor" and driving force behind her decision to come forward. The publication coincides with the upcoming release of Nevils' book, while Lauer and NBC have been approached for comment regarding these latest allegations.
