Rumors are circulating that another Today anchor could be cut loose following Ann Curry's departure last summer.
Matt Lauer has been receiving heavy criticism since Curry's departure with many tong-time Today fans pointing fingers at him for her firing.
The drama on the NBC morning show began in the spring this year when ratings went on the decline while rival Good Morning America on ABC began to rise.
Almost immediately, Ann Curry became the scapegoat and coincidentally the time fell as Lauer was in negotiations of a new contract.
By the time Lauer's extension was done, so was Curry's time on the show.
Since her departure in June, Lauer has been blamed and ratings didn't improve. Eventually, executive producer Jim Bell took responsibility for her departure and stated Lauer had no role in it.
Lauer once again received criticism during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade when viewers went to Twitter to complain on his coverage of the annual event.
Speaking to the New York Daily News, Lauer stated, "They have an opinion and two thumbs, and that gives them the right to do whatever they want."
Lauer added that he "doesn't pay enough attention" to the negative tweets.
The rumors of a possible Lauer firing as quickly denied by a source from the show.
"Not in a million years," said a "high-ranking" Today source to the Daily News.
Although Lauer will stay, executive producer Bell is out. He will be replaced by Alexandra Wallace and Don Nash.
According to Radar Online, Lauer and Wallace "have had a very tense relationship" with the co-anchor disagreeing with Wallace's direction for the morning show.
"Matt Lauer is NOT happy that Jim Bell who had been the executive producer of the Today show since 2005 has been forced out," said a source to Radar. "Alexandra Wallace, who will be Bell's replacement, and Matt have never had a good working relationship. Matt doesn't like the fact that Alexandra is a big advocate of Ann Curry's."
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