Two years after “Today” show host Matt Lauer was fired for sexual assault claims against an anonymous coworker, Brooke Nevils reveals her struggles in Robin Farrow’s upcoming book, Catch and Kill. 

Nevils was a producer for NBC and worked for the network around Lauer for several years. Farrow worked closely with Nevils to write her account of what happened and how she felt during her time working for NBC with Lauer. Lauer has continuously denied any claims of sexual assault or harrassment and says their relationship was consenual. However, Nevils has a starkly different account of the events.

Lauer and Nevils first met in February 2014 while covering the winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. While in Russia, Lauer and Nevils allegedly shared drinks and then agreed to go to Lauer’s hotel room. Lauer recalls that the two of them had consenual sex that night and Nevils gave no sign of any discomfort or wanting to stop. Nevils strongly disagreed and stated that “It was nonconsensual in the sense that I was too drunk to consent.” 

However, both have stated that they did take part in consensual sex occasionally once back in New York. Some of these encounters even taking place in Lauer’s office at NBC which led to questioning of NBC’s knowledge of their activities.

Nevils claims that although her sex with Lauer was consensual once back in NYC, she lived in constant fear while at work and obliged to Lauer’s needs because of his superiority within the network. NBC denies any knowledge of the harassment until being notified by Nevils and then responding by immediately firing Lauer.  Skepticism remains because of several claims made by other women who claimed to have similar experiences with Lauer in his office at NBC.

Shortly after Lauer’s departure from the “Today” show, several women told stories of their encounters with Lauer that made them feel uncomfortable or taken advantage of. Each woman described similar circumstances of uncomfortable encounters with Lauer. Although Nevils is now stating that Lauer raped her, in her initial meeting with NBC, she did not use the word rape, describing the incident as “nonconsensual.” Nevils also claims she told several of her close friends and family members right after it happened and that she was visibly upset by the incident.

Farrow’s novel is one of the most anticipated of the year because of the scandal between Lauer, Nevils, and NBC. The novel focuses on Nevils’ accusation and the role NBC had to play in the knowledge of Lauer’s sexual activities in the workplace. The addition of other women’s stories of sexual harassment from Lauer have only made him more defensive and committed to denying that he ever engaged in nonconsensual sex with any woman. 

Senior Maxine Koos comments that she will  “definitely be on the lookout for Farrows’ novel, and [is] waiting to see the story unfold.” 

Nevertheless, Farrow’s book release is sure to bring more insight for Nevils’ side of the story and spark new controversy for Lauer and NBC.