Natalie Morales, the popular co-host of the Today show, is reportedly seeking greener pastures. According to speculation, this is due to the tense atmosphere behind the scenes of the NBC Show. Sources have told Page Six that Morales is locked in a power struggle with fellow Today show host Tamron Hall and NBC News chief Deborah Turness.
Morales joined the show back in 2006 as a national correspondent but she was eventually promoted to be the co-host of the show’s third hour. However, she has yet to nab the top anchor spot despite her relatively long history with the company. When Ann Curry left in 2012, Morales was passed over for the job. The gig instead went to Savannah Guthrie.
According to Page Six’s NBC source, “There’s a lot of tension. Natalie and Tamron are competitive, and there was a big blow up in October between the two. Deborah has an issue with Natalie and has sided with Tamron. There has been zero communication between Deborah and Natalie for a long period of time. It’s the talk of NBC staff.”
Natalie Morales and Tamron Hall are reportedly feuding over the Today Show co-anchor position: http://t.co/JxA9djExgm pic.twitter.com/xxYWCQxda2
— Us Weekly (@usweekly) November 10, 2014
Another insider claims that, “Natalie’s agent at WME has been reaching out discreetly looking for other opportunities for her. She could be interested in a talk show.” WME declined to comment on the matter, however.
It was also reported that Morales had lunch with the Today show’s executive producer Don Nash to air her grievances, but she didn’t get the reassurance she had hoped for regarding her future with the show.
In a statement released by Nash, he denied the rumors by saying, “This is total nonsense. As the ‘Today’ show continues to gain momentum, it sounds like someone is trying to stir up trouble that doesn’t exist. Natalie Morales is valued by everyone at the news division from the top down, and her future is with the ‘Today’ show and NBC News.”