Matt Lauer ‘Wants to Be There’ For Savannah Guthrie, Will Reach Out ‘When the Time Is Right’ (Exclusive)

Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie have rarely spoken since he was axed from the Today show in 2017, but a source says he’s feeling terrible about her current nightmare and plans to offer support.

“He is absolutely shaken watching what she is going through,” the source tells the National Enquirer. “He can only imagine the anguish Savannah is going through right now.”

With the search for Guthrie’s missing mother, Nancy, entering its second week, the FBI has increased the reward for information leading to her recovery to $100,000.

“As someone who has dealt with countless threats on himself and his family, this is truly his worst nightmare,” says the source. “It hits very close to home and he wants to help her in some way.”

It’s no secret the former Today show cohosts had “a lot of bad blood,” says the Enquirer’s source.

In 2019, Guthrie, 54, issued an on-air statement in support of Brooke Nevils, the former NBC producer who accused Lauer, 68, of raping her at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Lauer denies the allegation.

“[Matt] felt very let down by a lot of people including Savannah and he didn’t hold back,” admits the source. “But they made peace a number of years ago so it actually wouldn’t be strange for him to get in touch.”

Lauer hasn’t yet, though.

“He’s just anxious about inserting himself at the wrong moment so he’s asked [Hoda Kotb] to let him know when the time is right to reach out,” says the source. “If Savannah needs anything, even someone to call in a favor, Matt wants to be there for her.”