Kathie Lee Gifford Furious With 'Politically Correct' NBC Amid Her Shocking Exit
Jan. 4 2019, Updated 3:11 p.m. ET
Kathie Lee Gifford claimed she's leaving Today after ten years alongside Hoda Kotb to focus on other projects. But RadarOnline.com can reveal the truth — she's furious over NBC's politically correct decisions to dump her pal Matt Lauer and fire Megyn Kelly!
"She thought NBC acted like it was a news network in a nanny state, and she could no longer go on because common sense had been overtaken by madness," said an insider.
"Frankly, she feels more comfortable at the Christian Broadcasting Network. She has a deep Christian faith, and she can share it there — without judgment," spilled the well-placed source.
Earlier this year, Kathie Lee talked about her faith during an interview on "Megyn Kelly Today" as she discussed the death of her friend, the Rev. Billy Graham — months before Megyn was ousted from the morning show over her controversial comments about blackface.
"Now that 'Megyn Kelly Today' is gone, she doesn't feel like she has that platform anymore," said the source.
"She was friends with Megyn and was very upset when she got the boot — and she let everyone know it!
"Kathie Lee confided to a pal, 'I think Megyn was treated very badly. And I didn't like the way Matt Lauer's firing was handled, either.
"'There was a lot of bad-mouthing and airing of dirty laundry in both cases.
"'I began to feel like that wasn't the place for me anymore, either!'"
As for accused sexual harasser Matt, Kathie Lee said she does not condone his alleged behavior — but she believed he was "tried and convicted in the court of public opinion."
The snitch said, "She told a pal, 'Matt's my friend. I'm not going to abandon him. I believe in forgiveness.'"
But the source claimed, "What she doesn't believe in is having to toe the line being politically correct!"
Though another insider dished: "Her ratings are getting smaller and smaller. She wants to be remembered as the person who invented 'Today's' fourth hour — not the one that killed it!
"All the great producers have left. Hoda is off more than she's on. She's no fool. She knows it's only going to get worse.
"She's better off going on other shows to promote her music and films and passion projects."
Kathie Lee's last day on the show will be April 7, and the source noted her attitude is "never be the last one at a party. When the lights go up — you need to leave."
As fans know, an emotional Kathie Lee Gifford stunned fans when she announced her departure from the Today show this Tuesday morning. But after the dust has settled, sources told RadarOnline.com exclusively the talking head actually got dumped by the network.
After having her at NBC for 11 whole years, network execs grew tired of Gifford, 65, and were anxious to replace her with a younger host, the insider claimed.
"Executives at Today have quietly been looking for a replacement. for Kathie Lee. NBC wants younger viewers, and at 65, she's long in the tooth," the source told RadarOnline.com this November.
"They want someone who can be a female counterpart to Craig Melvin, who isn't even 40 yet," the insider added at the time.
We pay for juicy info! Do you have a story for RadarOnline.com? Email us at tips@radaronline.com, or call us at (866) ON-RADAR (667-2327) any time, day or night.
Get the exclusive celebrity scoop on all the stars you love before any of your friends by subscribing to our new podcast Straight Shuter below!
Never Miss an
Daily updates from the heart of Hollywood, right to your inbox
By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you’re agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
