While discussing NASA’s effort to build a new supersonic passenger jet to replace the Concord, on Tuesday’s NBC Today, co-hosts Carson Daly and Savannah Guthrie accidentally outed fellow co-host Matt Lauer’s posh lifestyle.
After mentioning the new jet being developed, Lauer reminded viewers: “Remember, the last supersonic jet, the Concord, retired back in 2003, grounded after complaints over sky-high costs and those loud takeoffs and landings.” Daly asked: “Did you ever fly the Concord?” Guthrie chimed in: “You did, right?” Lauer confirmed: “I did, on several [occasions].”
Recalling his own experience on the luxury airliner, weatherman Al Roker complained: “And it was kind of cramped.” Lauer agreed: “It was a narrow tube. It had to be so that it could go supersonic.” Guthrie sarcastically mocked their discomfort: “I would never fly that Concord, too cramped.”
Moments later, Guthrie noted: “But didn't you say they also had like a limo picking you up? Like you could get on the Concord as fancy.” Lauer grimaced: “Little bit of a one percent issue there...Thanks for that, my dear.”
As the rest of the hosts laughed, Roker declared: “Thanks for bringing that up!” Daly joked: “Matt couldn’t smoke his cigars. So many problems.”
In fact, Lauer has a long history of wealth hypocrisy in his reporting. He has routinely fretted over income inequality despite his reported $20 million dollar salary.
In 2014, the New York Post revealed that the Concord wasn’t the only high-end aircraft used by the morning show host. NBC agreed to start flying Lauer to work in a private helicopter from his lavish Hamptons estate on Long Island.
Here is a full transcript of the March 1 segment on Today:
8:10 AM ET
MATT LAUER: How long does it take to fly from New York to Los Angeles?
CARSON DALY: Five hours and forty-eight minutes.
LAUER: Because you know, you do it a lot.
LAUER: How would you feel, Carson, if that trip were to last about as long as a Star Wars movie?
DALY: That would be awesome.
LAUER: About two and a half hours. It could soon be reality now that NASA is trying to revive the super sonic jet. It’s partnering with Lockheed Martin to develop a quieter aircraft that exceeds the speed of sound. Costing about $20 million in development over the next year or so.
AL ROKER: That’s all?
LAUER: Over the next year or so. Remember, the last super sonic jet, the Concord, retired back in 2003, grounded after complaints over sky-high costs and those loud takeoffs and landings. So if they can create a jet without the boom, I wonder if people will –
DALY: Did you ever fly the Concord?
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: You did, right?
LAUER: I did, on several –
DALY: What was it like?
LAUER: It was – it was quick.
DALY: Do you feel the speed inside the cabin?
LAUER: No, not really. You felt a little like, boom! Like someone knocked the back of your chair, and then you're gone. You're going.
AL ROKER: And it was kind of cramped.
LAUER: It was a narrow tube. It had to be so that it could go supersonic.
GUTHRIE: Sounds – I would never fly that Concord, too cramped.
LAUER: Yeah.
ROKER: You kind of expect this thing.
LAUER: You would leave London and get to New York before you left.
GUTHRIE: Wow. But didn't you say they also had like a limo picking you up? Like you could get on the Concord as fancy.
LAUER: Little bit of a one percent issue there.
[LAUGHTER]
ROKER: Thanks for bringing that up!
LAUER: Thanks for that, my dear.
DALY: Matt couldn’t smoke his cigars. So many problems.
