Following Matt Lauer‘s abrupt firing from “Today” in late November over alleged inappropriate sexual conduct, his former colleague Willie Geist revealed he has kept in touch with the disgraced NBC anchor.
“I’ve texted with him just on a personal level,” the “Sunday Today” host told Entertainment Tonight on Tuesday. “It was his birthday the other day, his 60th birthday [Dec. 30].”
As allegations pile up against the father of three, Geist, 42, said Lauer is “as good as he can be.”
“He’s sort of reconnecting with his family and figuring everything out,” Geist added.
Lauer is said to be fighting for his 20-year marriage to wife Annette Roque, while still trying to have a hand in the inner workings of “Today.” Sources revealed Lauer recently shot an email to a producer about the music used to kick off a segment.
Despite Lauer’s firm grip on the past, “Today” has since moved forward, naming Hoda Kotb as his permanent replacement.
“You can’t not be happy for Hoda,” Geist said of Savannah Guthrie‘s new co-anchor. “She’s such a genuine, loving, feeling, energetic person. She deserves it, and it’s good for everybody.”