Katie Couric recently reflected on the sexist attitude that her former coanchor Bryant Gumbel displayed towards her while they worked together on the Today show. Couric revealed that Gumbel had made insensitive comments when she took maternity leave, suggesting that she should just drop her baby in a field and come back to work. She described Gumbel’s behavior as emblematic of a sexist attitude, even though he was kidding. Despite this, Couric acknowledged Gumbel’s broadcasting talent but also called him a “prickly” person and a definite “guy’s guy.”
Couric and Gumbel worked together on Today until 1997 when Gumbel left to work for CBS. Couric eventually followed suit and became the first female anchor for CBS Evening News in 2006. Couric welcomed her first daughter, Ellie, with her late husband Jay Monahan and later had a second daughter, Carrie. Monahan passed away from colon cancer two years after Carrie’s birth. Couric and Gumbel had a long working relationship, but Couric’s recent comments about Gumbel show that issues like sexism in the workplace were not uncommon during their time together.
Couric has been vocal about sexism in the workplace in the past. She recalled dealing with inappropriate comments and criticism about her wardrobe when she started hosting CBS Evening News. Couric also shared an incident where a CNN executive commented on her success being linked to her hard work, intelligence, and breast size. Despite facing such attitudes, Couric has not let them go unchecked. She once wrote to an executive who made a comment about her breast size, demanding an apology for the inappropriate remark.
Couric also spoke about her former Today cohost, Matt Lauer, who was fired from NBC in 2017 due to allegations of sexual misconduct. Couric mentioned that the broadcast news industry was filled with fraternization, alluding to inappropriate relationships within the workplace. While Couric was fortunate to not have experienced sexual misconduct herself, she was exposed to widely held attitudes about women and the compartmentalization of women in the workplace. Couric’s candid revelations shed light on the challenges faced by women in the media industry and the need for change in workplace culture.
Overall, Couric’s reflections on her time working with Gumbel and Lauer highlight the prevalent sexism and inappropriate behavior faced by women in the broadcast news industry. Despite Gumbel’s talent as a broadcaster, his sexist attitude towards Couric was indicative of a broader issue in the workplace. Couric’s openness about her experiences with sexism and inappropriate comments emphasizes the importance of addressing and challenging such behaviors in the workplace. Her candid remarks serve as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for gender equality in various industries, including broadcast news.
