Today's Lauer-Morales Deny Affair Rumors

Natalie Morales, Matt Lauer

Natalie Morales is denying rumors an alleged affair between her and fellow “Today” anchor Matt Lauer is one of the reasons why she decided to jump ship to head to “Access Hollywood.”

Lauer and Morales strongly deny any inappropriate relationship, but one source told Page Six at The NY Post, “There’s speculation it’s one of the reasons why she’s moving . . . Matt didn’t want to work with her.”

Lauer was once one of Morales’ biggest supporters at NBC. But now, “There’s an awkwardness between Matt and Natalie . . . He protected her for a long time and now it seems like something has gone awry,” added an insider.

But another source said of Lauer and Morales, “There’s no validity to it. Zero fact. NBC News loves her. Her contract was up in the fall and she wanted to try something new. She wanted to go to LA. [NBC] wanted to keep her.”

Morales’ husband moved to California for work and she wanted to take their children, the Post reports.

Lauer carries a lot of power and decides who stays at “Today” according to insiders. The first source added of Morales’ move, “[A scandal] is the last thing NBC wanted after the Ann Curry debacle.”

Morales said, “There is absolutely no truth to this completely absurd story. It is damaging, hurtful and extremely sexist. I have proven myself in all aspects of my job as a news professional and journalist, and am adding to my role, taking on three jobs with ‘Access Hollywood Live’ and ‘Access Hollywood,’ in addition to ‘Today.’ This move was dictated by me and my desire to grow in my career. Any insinuations beyond that are uninformed.”