NBC Nixed Robin Roberts Tweet From Ann Curry, Fearing it Would 'Aid the Enemy'

The cutthroat world of morning daytime television is on full display in this week's issue of New York Magazine, including the story of ratings-obsessed execs who reportedly told NBC's Ann Curry she wasn't allowed to tweet a note of sympathy to rival ABC's Robin Roberts when the anchor was sick because it would "aid the enemy."

"Ann Curry was gone but not gone, which created a situation of spectacular awkwardness. Any trust that had existed between Curry and 'Today' was shattered," writes New York Magazine's Joe Hagan. "When Robin Roberts left 'Good Morning America' a month later to get treatment for MDS, Curry asked NBC if she could tweet a note of sympathy for the ABC co-host. NBC said no, afraid she was trying to aid the enemy."

Whether the nixed tweet was a result of the strained relationship between Curry and NBC or born out of fear that it would somehow keep "Today" in second place behind ABC's "Good Morning America" or both is unclear.

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The story of Curry, the emotional newsreader who viewers loved, being ousted from her position as "Today" co-anchor in June 2012 after only a year led many to point the finger at Matt Lauer, who was believed to have orchestrated her demotion.

Lauer has maintained that he was pulling for Curry, even asking NBC executives to put off firing her.

"He was quietly and publicly a supporter of Ann's throughout the entire process," Steve Capus, the former NBC News president, told the Daily Beast. "It is unfair that Matt has shouldered an undue amount of blame for a decision he disagreed with."

Meanwhile, over at ABC, "Good Morning America" is flying high in the ratings, especially after the return of Robin Roberts last month.

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Roberts, a breast cancer survivor, underwent a bone marrow transplant in September to treat myelodysplastic syndrome or MDS, a rare cancer-like blood disorder that affects the bone marrow.

Related stories:

Robin Roberts Announces Return to 'GMA' Following Bone Marrow Transplant

NBC in Talks to Replace 'Today' Co-Host Curry

Robin Roberts to Start Medical Leave Next Week