Katie Couric recently reflected on the “sexist attitude” displayed by her former co-anchor Bryant Gumbel while they worked together on the Today show. She shared that during her maternity leave, Gumbel made jokes and gave her a hard time for taking time off to have her first baby, showing an incredibly sexist attitude. While she praised Gumbel for his broadcasting talent, she also described him as a “prickly” person and a definite “guy’s guy.” Couric joined the Today show in 1991, shortly before welcoming her first daughter, Ellie, with her late husband Jay Monahan, who passed away from colon cancer.
Couric and Gumbel worked together on the Today show until 1997, when Gumbel left the series to work for CBS. Couric eventually became the first female anchor for CBS Evening News in 2006, following in Gumbel’s footsteps. Couric’s recent comments about Gumbel are not the first time she has been candid about sexism in the workplace. She has previously spoken about dealing with “gross” comments on the job, including having her wardrobe critiqued publicly and being told that she was successful because of her breast size, along with intelligence and hard work.
While Couric has not been subjected to a lot of sexual misconduct in her career, she has faced widely held attitudes about women and the compartmentalization of women in the workplace. Couric has been outspoken about these issues and has not hesitated to call out instances of sexism and discrimination when she encounters them. She recounted a meeting at CNN where an executive made inappropriate comments about her appearance, and she responded by asserting her intelligence and hard work.
Couric also worked alongside Matt Lauer during her time on the Today show, who was terminated from NBC after allegations of sexual misconduct in the workplace. Couric described the broadcast news environment as very different during that time, with lots of fraternization happening behind the scenes. She mentioned that there was a culture of interoffice relationships that were not always appropriate. Despite the challenges she faced, Couric has continued to be a trailblazer for women in the industry and has used her platform to speak out against sexism and discrimination in the workplace.
Katie Couric’s experiences with sexism and discrimination in the workplace have shaped her career and inspired her to advocate for change. She has been outspoken about her encounters with sexist attitudes and has not shied away from calling out inappropriate behavior when she sees it. Couric’s reflections on her time working with Bryant Gumbel and Matt Lauer shed light on the challenges faced by women in the broadcasting industry and highlight the importance of creating a safe and inclusive work environment for all employees. Through her courage and determination, Couric continues to make a lasting impact on the industry and pave the way for future generations of female journalists.
