'Today' host fired over 'inappropriate sexual behaviour'

American network NBC has fired its leading morning news anchor Matt Lauer after it received complaint about his "inappropriate sexual behaviour in workplace."

'Today' co-anchors Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb announced Lauer's firing, telling viewers at the top of the show that they were processing his departure, but didn't yet know the details.

The 'Today' staff learned the news shortly before going live.

Guthrie said, "All we can say is we are heartbroken; I'm heartbroken."

He dubbed Lauer as "a dear, dear friend."

Hoda Kotb, on the set with Guthrie, said that she has known Lauer for years and "loved him as a friend and a colleague."

Lauer has been the cornerstone of the program, one of the most profitable franchises on television, for two decades, reported CNN.

"On Monday night, we received a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace by Matt Lauer," Andrew Lack, the NBC News president, said in the memo.

He said the allegation against Lauer "represented, after serious review, a clear violation of our company's standards. As a result, we've decided to terminate his employment."

"It was the first complaint lodged against Lauer in his career at the network," However, he acknowledged that, "this may not have been an isolated incident."

Lauer, 59, was named a co-anchor of 'Today' in January 1997 after three years as the newsreader.