Katie Couric Opens up About “Gross” Sexism Throughout Her TV Career

TV personality Katie Couric is getting candid about a very sensitive topic. At the #WeSeeEqual forum on Thursday, March 1, she opened up about the "gross comments" and sexism she's experienced in the workplace.

"I’ve been very fortunate in terms of not being subjected to a lot of sexual misconduct, but certainly I have been subjected to widely held attitudes about women, about compartmentalizing women," Katie, 61, shared, adding that she's been called "cute" and "perky," which she's found "marginalizing."

Katie also opened up about a time she attended a meeting at CNN while working at CBS Evening News where an executive said of Katie to others at the table: "She’s successful because of her hard work, intelligence, and breast size." He later called her "dripping with apologies," she added, according to Page Six.

Following Matt Lauer's sexual harassment allegations in November, Today fans were quick to know Katie's reaction. "The whole thing has been very painful for me," Katie revealed weeks after his firing. "The accounts I’ve read and heard have been disturbing, distressing, and disorienting, and it’s completely unacceptable that any woman at the Today show experienced this kind of treatment. I had no idea this was going on during my tenure or after I left."

Katie continued, "I think I speak for many of my former colleagues when I say this was not the Matt we knew. Matt was a kind and generous colleague who treated me with respect. In fact, a joke I once made on late-night television was just that, because it was completely contrary to our brother-sister relationship. It’s still very upsetting. I really admire the way Savannah [Guthrie] and Hoda [Kotb] and the entire Today show staff have handled a very difficult situation."

The mom-of-two previously shared her opinion on the #TimesUp movement, which was created to put an end to sexual harassment. "I think it was really moving to see so many women support each other and demand change, not only for themselves but for mistreated and marginalized women in all kinds of industries," Katie shared. “Clearly we are witnessing a sea change and a long overdue course correction."

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