Embattled NBC News chief Andrew Lack on Monday defended the network's decision to can a report by Ronan Farrow of harassment allegations against movie-mogul Harvey Weinstein — a Pulitzer Prize-winning effort that would turn into one of the biggest blockbusters of the year.
"We spent eight months pursuing the story, but at the end of that time, NBC News – like many others before us – still did not have a single victim or witness willing to go on the record," Lack wrote in a memo, Variety reported.
Along with the lengthy memo, Lack also sent employees a "fact sheet" on the situation to dispel "baseless speculation," according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The network has come under fire for its handling of Farrow's initial report.
"For the past nine months, it has been our belief that the 'story' here is about Harvey Weinstein's horrendous behavior and about the suffering and bravery of his victims, rather than a back-and-forth between a reporter and his producer and a news network," Lack wrote at the top of the memo, THR reported. "However, we've watched with disappointment as unfounded intimations and accusations have traveled through media circles."
"We regret the deterioration of NBC's relationship with Ronan, and genuinely wish we had found a path to move forward together. That is why, in August of 2017, when Farrow objected to his editors' conclusion, we convened an independent group of the most experienced investigative journalists in our organization to review his material with fresh eyes. We asked them — tell us what, if anything, we can broadcast. But their conclusion was unequivocal — this story is not ready for air."
Farrow then left 30 Rock and eventually published the story in The New Yorker, winning the Pulitzer.
The decision to let Farrow publish his reporting for the magazine "was a decision undertaken honorably and with good intentions toward Farrow and his work," Lack said, THR reported.
"The accompanying document recounts every interaction NBC News executives and editors had with Weinstein and his attorneys," Lack wrote, THR reported. "It will surprise no one that they were dishonest in their dealings with us, often mischaracterizing our brief conversations. But in each instance, their calls were either completely ignored or met with a boilerplate commitment to allow them to comment if and when something was ready for broadcast."
Lack, at times, also took pains to compliment Farrow and his work, which he called "outstanding" and worthy of "great acclaim and attention," THR reported.
A copy of the full memo was posted by Deadline.com.