There have been several high-profile media exits in recent weeks, but former news anchor Katie Couric hasn’t been happy about any of them.
During an appearance on Kelly Ripa’s Let’s Talk Off Camera podcast, Couric explained that media audiences enjoy watching prominent figures “fall from grace”, but that doesn’t mean the situations spark joy for her.
“There’s a certain sadness. Maybe you don’t like Tucker Carlson. Maybe you don’t like Don Lemon. In Tucker’s case, to lie to the public, you can’t really be rehabilitated from that,” admitted Couric. “But I don’t think anybody should take a lot of joy from seeing people’s downfalls.”
She added that Carlson is likely lucky that more leaks of his text messages and behind-the-scenes videos haven’t been made public, because the contents could lead to more damage.
“There was probably more embarrassing things that would come out, apparently some gross communiques between Tucker Carlson and some of his co-workers,” she believed.
Couric spoke extensively about the downfall of NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell, who was ousted after he was accused of sexual harassment by CNBC anchor Hadley Gamble.
“I was so shocked that Jeff Shell would do this. What is it, the power dynamics, they’re so surrounded with yes people that the rules don’t apply to them?” questioned Couric.
She continued to share her bewilderment that Shell would conduct himself in such a manner unbecoming of a CEO.
“It just amazes me that a powerful executive like that would be so dumb, just be so stupid and reckless,” said Couric. “I think reckless is the word. You can see how it happens, but I think you have to be smart and disciplined and know that unless you tell your supervisor, and unless you’re not a direct report, that having a relationship with a colleague isn’t cool,” she concluded.
