Chris Matthews Reprimanded for Harassing Producer in '99

Add another name to the exhaustive list of men in media being accused of harassing behavior at work. On the heels of NBC’s dismissal of Matt Lauer for sexual misconduct, the Daily Caller reports that old dirt has been dug up about Hardball’s Chris Matthews. An MSNBC spokesperson confirmed that a female assistant producer was paid an undisclosed amount in 1999 after complaining of verbal harassment by Matthews, the Daily Caller reports. At the time, she accused Matthews of making inappropriate jokes and comments about her in front of colleagues. Matthews was formally reprimanded after an investigation by the company.

Two sources told the Caller the accuser received a $40,000 settlement, which an NBC spokesperson denies, saying she received a much smaller severance payment that was unrelated to Matthews’ comments, Vanity Fair reports. “In 1999, this matter was thoroughly reviewed and dealt with. At that time Matthews received a formal reprimand,” the spokesperson said via email. (NBC recently canned analyst Mark Halperin after multiple women came forward to accuse him of groping and harassment.)