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Amidst annual speculation that fallen “Today” host Matt Lauer could return to TV, there speculation his “savvy publicist girlfriend,” Shamin Abas, has helped to keep the comeback story alive, a source tells Page Six.
“She is encouraging him to keep trying and she is definitely persistent. There have been instances of second and third acts with other stars, so they think people will give him a chance,” the source said.
We’re told the PR whiz believes shows like “The Morning Show” — featuring a character played by Steve Carell that’s seems to mirror Lauer and his past NBC scandal — helps their case to get him back on the small screen.
(Apple Original series’ showrunner Kerry Ehrin told The Hollywood Reporter, “It wasn’t designed to be about him.”)
Headlines, including our own, about a Lauer comeback have circulated almost annually since NBC fired him following his 2017 scandal. The latest report surfaced in People magazine this week with insiders alleging, “he has talked to some people about” a comeback.
A source told us Lauer was having discussions about a return a while ago, but was met with “a hard ‘no.’”
“He’s old now. He’s got a good life,” they said.
Lauer and Shabas have been living a low-key, luxe life in the Hamptons since they started dating in 2019, after finalizing his divorce from Annette Roque.
When we reached out to Abas for comment, she responded to a 2023 Page Six item about Lauer hanging out at a ladies-only golf luncheon at his club in 2023.
She told us the story was “a complete lie.”
“The piece was hurtful to Matt, his children, and me,” she said. “Please don’t now pretend to be working on anything that would claim to represent truth. Sorry to be blunt,” she concluded.
Well, at least she apologized?
