Al Roker may have kept it real about Ryan Lochte’s Rio robbery tale, but it turns out not everybody was happy about it.
According to Page Six, “Today” show insiders say the network was “embarrassed” by Roker’s comments.
–‘He didn’t embellish, he lied!’: Al Roker blasts Ryan Lochte’s lies, internet applauds
“He lied. He lied to you, he lied to Matt Lauer, he lied to his mom, [and] he left his teammates hanging while he skedaddled,” Roker told Billy Bush during a debate about Lochte’s ever-changing story about having been robbed at gunpoint during the Olympic Games– a story which was later proved to be blatantly false.
The video of Roker calling out Billy Bush went viral and won over fans, but according to insiders, the network has struggled to try and explain away the “rant” to maintain a good relationship with Olympic athletes and the committee.
–Al Roker, Bill de Blasio smooth over their snow spat
“There were several producers and talent who were left trying to explain Al’s over-the-top behavior,” said a source. “Several insiders found themselves wanting to distance themselves from his response.”
“It was a great thing to watch online, but a lot of NBC staff thought that he took it way too far for something that, while it was certainly a legitimate issue and certainly bad behavior by Lochte, outrage to that level just wasn’t justified.”
However, one executive denied the claim, saying, “This is not true. No one feels this way. In fact, everyone here is happy — specifically with the ‘Today’ show’s great ratings.”
-Al Roker apologizes for taking distasteful selfie of South Carolina destruction
If the rumors are true, then hey, sometimes the truth hurts. Watch the clip below to see how Al puts on the pressure on!
