The former production assistant who revealed she engaged in a sexual relationship with "Today" host Matt Lauer in 2000 is being called a "whore" and a "homewrecker."
Addie Collins Zinone divulged shocking new details about her torrid affair with the now-disgraced talk show host in an explosive interview with Megyn Kelly on Monday.
While Zinone was initially praised for opening about her experience with Lauer, the former "Today" staffer is now facing backlash online for coming forward. She was 24 and he was in his 40s and married when they began their affair.
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"Stop playing the victim! You are NOT a victim!! You are a whore! Plain and simple," one person wrote on Twitter.
#AddieCollinsZinone stop playing the victim! You are NOT a victim!! You are a whore! Plain and simple!
— Tabitha k. Walker (@ndngrl19) December 18, 2017
Another shared, "Addie Zinone just wanted some 5 minute attention... her affair with Matt Laurer was 100% consensual and she honestly should have never brought it up. She made the choice to be a homewrecker and gives a bad name to the real #MeToo people."
Addie Zinone just wanted some 5 minute attention... her affair with Matt Laurer was 100% consensual and she honestly should have never brought it up. She made the choice to be a homewrecker and gives a bad name to the real #MeToo people
— chanandler bong (@xelanotlimah) December 18, 2017
"THERES A PHRASE FOR WHAT HAPPENED WITH THIS WOMAN, ITS (sic) CALLED TRYING TO SLEEP TO THE TOP, THIS IS SO FREAKING REDICULOUS (sic), ID (sic) EVEN BET SHE CAME ON TO HIM!!!"
All she wants is fame shame on you why go public you said it was ok to have sex so what’s your point don’t get mad if you get name call
— gb (@gbehrsing) December 18, 2017
Sorry lady, you were 24 years old, you knew he was married and you had a consensual affair anyway. Coming out doesn't make you look good.
— Julie Ann (@MayorOfSnark) December 18, 2017
Zinone told Kelly about the negative comments she was already receiving since revealing her affair with Lauer.
"I understand that people are going to paint me as a homewrecker, as a slut and a whore and those are things I have been called. It was suggested yesterday to me that ‘Please please go get hit by a bus,'" Zinone told Kelly.
Their alleged affair lasted about a month and, even though Zinone felt that Lauer steered her into the uncomfortable situation, she said she takes full responsibility for her actions, calling them a “massive mistake” that has continued to haunt her.
"These are very hard things to talk about," she admitted. "My family is shattered by this. They are afraid for me. This all trickles down to a lot of people that are affected, so having these conversations is really important, but also there’s a lot of shame attached to what I did."
Zinone said she struggled with hiding her story for 17 years and was fearful of opening up to the world about her shame.