Tamron Hall’s “Today” show colleague Al Roker addressed the sudden departure of his former co-host on Thursday morning.
“As some of you may have heard by now, our good friend Tamron Hall has decided to leave NBC News,” Al Roker said. “Personally, Tamron has been, not just a co-host here on ‘Today’s Take’ for the past three years – but a good friend to not just me, but all of us here.”
Roker continued: “We want to wish her nothing but the best, much continued success and cannot wait to see what her next chapter is.”
TheWrap previously reported that NBC executives informed Hall and the “Today” staff last week that the 9 a.m. hour was being canceled to make room for a new program led by Megyn Kelly. Hall was offered a multi-year, multi-million dollar deal to stay but chose to leave. The network announced her departure on Wednesday.
Hall’s contract was up at the end of the month. She made her last on-air appearance on Tuesday after failing to reach a new deal at NBC that would not have included her current “Today” duties, but would have included a role from the 7-9 a.m. period.
“Today” has been plagued by less-than-seamless transitions in the past. Katie Couric famously left the show back in 2006 to anchor “CBS Evening News” and Ann Curry’s tearful on-air departure rocked the media industry in 2012. The drama goes all the way back to 1990 when Deborah Norville didn’t return to the program after taking maternity leave.
The National Association of Black Journalists has requested a meeting with NBC to discuss the “whitewashing” departure of Hall from the network.
“NBC has been a leader for diversity in broadcasting, but recent reports that Hall and [Al] Roker will be replaced by former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly are being seen by industry professionals as whitewashing,” the NABJ said in a statement.
Meanwhile, colleague Willie Geist said goodbye on Twitter:
.@TamronHall is a great, talented TV partner, a sister for life… and a committed Halloween dancer. Can't wait to see your next move, TH. pic.twitter.com/bqdwit9e9g
— Willie Geist (@WillieGeist) February 1, 2017
Check out the video above.