Ann Curry Steps Down as Co-Host of 'Today'
Watch Video
(Image Source: Fox News)
BY EMILY ALLEN
After 15 years on the Today show couch, Ann Curry gave a tearful goodbye Thursday morning. Her farewell comes after rumors broke last week that she was getting the boot. Here’s her announcement on NBC.
“This is not easy to say but today is going to be my last morning as a regular co-host of Today. I will still be a part of the Today Show family but I’m going to have a new title and a new role. And this is not as I expected.”
Entertainment Weekly calls Curry’s announcement on the show — pretty awkward. And when Curry’s on-air colleagues began sharing memories about the co-host...
“…It was a bit uncomfortable all around, to say the least.”
But hosts of The View commended Curry and the way she handled the situation on air.
“What grace and dignity.”
“I mean, that's tough after all the stuff that was heaped on her, you know, from all of the anonymous sources that said it's her fault that the show is, you know, not going well.”
Curry told USA Today the slew of leaks and rumors about her imminent departure hurt deeply. As for accusations that she’s behind Today’s ratings slump, she adds…
"I know I am not to blame for the ratings worries…And my bosses have said to me there are many factors involved. There is no doubt that the rating wars have become meaner and less focused on our responsibilities as journalists.”
A writer for the Baltimore Sun agrees with NBC executives that Curry needed to be replaced. But, the writer said there are plenty of times throughout TV history that when ratings slipped, executives were quick to fire the female.
“Maybe there is some special ratings tool that measures the credibility deficit of women in television, but I doubt it. If there's a problem, the easy answer is to replace the chick. Preferably with a younger, prettier chick.”
Curry said on Today she’s been given “some fancy new titles.” She’ll stay on at the network as a correspondent and anchor at large. NBC has not yet announced who will replace Curry on Today’s couch.
Read More @ Source More Celeb Stories Here