Matt Lauer Spotted With Estranged Wife Annette Roque
Disgraced “Today” anchor Matt Lauer is telling supporters that he’ll be back on TV.
Sources told Page Six that Lauer — who was fired in November by NBC over sexual harassment accusations — was recently spotted at an old haunt of his, Donohue’s Steak House, telling fans that his return was imminent.
“A group of older ladies came over to Lauer, saying, ‘We miss you!’?” a source told us.
The source said that Lauer told the fans, “I’ve been busy being a dad. But don’t worry, I’ll be back on TV.”
Reports have said that Lauer is hoping for a comeback.
He also apparently still has some supporters in broadcasting: Page Six reported in June that Lauer was seen at lunch with a former “Today” senior producer.
He’s increasingly been spotted in public on the Hamptons social scene, though many residents have called his look while out and about “incognito.”
In recent weeks, Lauer’s popped up at sceney East Hampton spot Serafina, at a Paddle for Pink charity event in Sag Harbor, and at the Hampton Classic on Sunday — where his daughter, Romy Lauer, has been known to compete.
Lauer’s estranged ex Annette Roque was also at the equestrian show and they interacted, although Lauer was there with another woman, who sources say is just a friend.
Said a spy: “He was with a mystery woman the whole time, beside him. Dark hair, late 40s to early 50s. They were chatting and she never left his side.”
But the source described their interaction as nothing but friendly.
The woman was also seen happily talking to Roque.
Our source said of Lauer, “He went in very low key, wearing a baseball cap and didn’t sit in VIP .?.?. He sat in regular seats in the stands.”
A rep declined to comment on who the woman with Lauer was, but did say that “any suggestion that he is dating someone is categorically false.”
Lauer’s been a regular for years at Upper East Side institution Donohue’s, near the Manhattan apartment he unloaded for $7 million earlier this year, we exclusively reported.