Savannah Guthrie was in tears when she announced that her fellow “Today Show” host Matt Lauer had been fired over claims of twisted sexual harassment — but the newswoman had already joined the ranks of stars caught in their own homewrecking celebrity sex scandals! The wholesome “Today” star almost had her career wrecked after she was caught up in a 2005 love affair with married British TV producer Mark Orchard. Savannah’s reputation then took a major hit after Orchard dumped his wife to marry the rising star. Instead, Savannah kicked the BBC newsman to the curb and ran off with a powerful Washington insider…
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A source with the BBC told
The National ENQUIRER: “The poor guy was totally smitten by Savannah and gave up his family for her. She turned his life upside down.” That was after the two hooked up while they were both covering the late
Michael Jackson’s trial on
sexual molestation charges in 2005. “Savannah was covering the trial for Court TV,” a source told The ENQUIRER, “and Mark for the BBC, and there was instant chemistry between them.”
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The two couldn't hide their passion for each other, either. “There was a lot of talk among other journalists there about Savannah and Mark pairing off,” said the source. Over the course of the five-month trial, Orchard left his Pulitzer Prize–winning wife Anne Kornblut, who was then working for the New York Times.
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The lovebirds were married by December 2005 — but insiders reported that the affair with Kornblut's husband was a blow to her career. “Savannah has a reputation of being a great journalist," said a news insider, "but her affair with Mark gave her a black eye in some circles.” The couple divorced three years later.
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Savannah then began dating dating political consultant Michael Feldman — but when the “Today” show called in 2012, their relationship ended as she hightailed it to New York. Her reputation also contributed to
more tensions between Lauer and his wife!
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Photo credit: Getty Images
A source with the BBC told
The National ENQUIRER: “The poor guy was totally smitten by Savannah and gave up his family for her. She turned his life upside down.” That was after the two hooked up while they were both covering the late
Michael Jackson’s trial on
sexual molestation charges in 2005. “Savannah was covering the trial for Court TV,” a source told The ENQUIRER, “and Mark for the BBC, and there was instant chemistry between them.”
Photo credit: Getty Images
The two couldn't hide their passion for each other, either. “There was a lot of talk among other journalists there about Savannah and Mark pairing off,” said the source. Over the course of the five-month trial, Orchard left his Pulitzer Prize–winning wife Anne Kornblut, who was then working for the New York Times.
Photo credit: Getty Images
The lovebirds were married by December 2005 — but insiders reported that the affair with Kornblut's husband was a blow to her career. “Savannah has a reputation of being a great journalist," said a news insider, "but her affair with Mark gave her a black eye in some circles.” The couple divorced three years later.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Savannah then began dating dating political consultant Michael Feldman — but when the “Today” show called in 2012, their relationship ended as she hightailed it to New York. Her reputation also contributed to
more tensions between Lauer and his wife!Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images