Matt Lauer Criticized After Racist ‘Indian Giver’ Comments On Today Show

SO WHO ARE THE KEEPERS OF THE SANCTIMOIUS FLAME OF LIFE, WHO GATHERED AROUND THE CAULDRON OF HATE AND MIS UNDERSTANDING , AND MADE THE ASS HOLE COMMENT THAT THE USE OF INDIAN GIVER, WHICH HAS BEEN SPOKEN SINCE THE CAVE MAN SCREWED HIS NEIGHBOR OUT OF A GOOD WOMAN , AND THEN FOUND OUT SHE WAS A GOOD DINO COOK.that statement had to be used more times than we have hairs on our head. BUT HERE IS SOME ONE OR SOMETHING IN SOCIETY WOKE UP FROM HIS MASTURBATION PERIOD ANDTHOUGHTHAT WHAT HE MIGHT HAVE HEARD WAS WORTH HIS STUPID EFFORT FOR HIS MINUTES OF SO CALLED FAME. WHAT A BUNCH OF JO'S CIAO.

SHAME ON YOU! I was SHOCKED when I heard that racist comment come out of your mouth.

EW! Was he not wearing socks with those shoes!?

It is what I expect from a rich, racist white man. You hurt a lot of Indian people today who have "open wounds" for over 520 years.

Oh William don't be such a thievin cracker, do you feel better now ou the victim

people need to lighten up before no one is able to speak a complete sentence for fear of offending someone.

Matt layer makes too much money to be showing his true racial prejudices to the public . He should be fired for his stupidity.

Very easy to say "lighhten up" when you're not the butt of the phrase, statement, or joke in question.

YES! To apologize to viewers AND ANN CURRY because he requested for Ann to be fired; it was LAUER'S plan all along! Lauer has to go! Tiki Barber was fired as a correspondent for the Today Show due to his affair w/an intern whom he married! YET, Lauer, who has done not one
but many affairs, especially w/Morales (15 yrs his junior). is still w/Today! NBCs policies only pertain to those whom they wish to apply it to? Double standards!!! Lauer: Apologize!!

And People: no culture should be used as a joke or slang or whatever; it is NOT acceptable & NOT the norm! Treat others as u would want to be treated! Whatever happened to kindness, respect, moral values??? Reason this country/world seem corrupt!

I was always told "Indian Giver" referred to the white settlers that would GIVE gifts or false hopes of sharing and taking whatever they wanted from the Native Americans?

What a moron. Come on Matt!

That's what I was taught Tony. So many people have their panties in wad.

Mr Lauer, you need to apologize for your insensitive comment. NBC should also apologize for your apathetic behavior. Mr Lauer, you should have apologized right after your statement and it probably wouldn't have gone this far…

"Indian giver" was first cited in John Russell Bartlett's Dictionary of Americanisms (1860) as "Indian giver. When an Indian gives any thing, he expects to receive an equivalent, or to have his gift returned." Thus it was really an exchange of gifts and not a matter of selflessness.

The phrase can be considered offensive, particularly to American Indians.

Etymology
It is unclear exactly how the expression came to be, but the consensus is that it is based on American Indians having a distinctly different sense of property ownership than people of European ancestry. One theory is that early European settlers in North America misinterpreted the aid and goods they received from local Indians as gifts, when in fact they were intended to be offered in trade. Many tribes operated economically by a form of barter system, or a gift economy, where reciprocal giving was practiced.
Wikipedia

Ok, I have know doubt Matt Lauer, regrets having siad it, but I also have not doubt that he intended nothing more than a "childish" remark to the playing around between him and Meredith, as it was only childish fun. It is rediculous a person can't say such an innocent "knowingly" playful thing without getting slammed for it. Come on people, just relax…must everything be taken out of context. It's an expression that's been around for years. I've never heard anyone take offense to it. In this day, of "freedom ot Speach", and soo many "real Issues" to be considered, does this one really warrant "being an issue". Dissecting what everybody may say, on any given day, seems a bit tedious, and unnecessary.

get real. native americans were not the butt of the joke.

get real. native americans were not the butt of the joke.

Wow really? So stupid!!!

Wow really? So stupid!!!

What goes around comes around. He just got bitten back I'm sure and not only that He's one of them. lol

@joanie schmahl Wow how dare you say its all in childish fun, he is talking about a whole race of people which i am. It is not one bit right for him to be able to make such a comment about my race or any other for that matter, If he had said something like a 'cotton picker', or 'wet back', or 'chink', there would have been outrage, But no he said "Indian Giver" which is okay? NO i don't think so!

"No, no, no, they're mine – don't be an Indian giver!"
How dare Matt Lauer say such things about my race and people, We demand that he owes the nation's first people a public on air apology! If they had said something like a 'cotton picker', or 'wet back', or 'chink', there would have been outrage. But talking about Native Americans is okay? No I don't think so!

How are they not the "butt of the joke" he is talking about Native Americans it is not funny he is being a racist!

I see your vocabulary isnt lacking…My point is that I know for a fact that as I heard, or said it, growing up is wasn't considered, or meant as a racist remark. "There are words, or things can be said, without meaning anything. I mean "anything at all". I absolutely agree, if he had said any one of those things you soo eloquently stated, there would be an uproar. He made a mistake, unknowingly…If anything, Matt Lauer, brought it to the forefront. Now, all of us who never gave it a thought, will remember it's not acceptable. Myself, I haven't used , or heard the expression in years…only because it never entered my mind. Now, due to all the hoopla, a new generation of kids have learned it.

Somewhere along the line, The Quote " He who is without fault, cast the first stone", comes to mind. Everybody makes a mistake, unforunately this one, has people wanting Matt Lauers neck. I am sure an apology will be coming…I'm sure he's not above that. "Knowing he never intended to offend anyone" won't be enough tho, and his apology won't even be accepted. It'll always be an issue, which is truly sad.

It is an insult to say that to anyone even a non native. The reason behind saying it was saying that Indian's which we are Native Americans, were thieves! Which we were not! He is being a racist. But why are you poking at my vocabulary? Because i know that all those other stereotypes are used & not appropriate.

Myself being Pokagon Potawatomi it was an exciting and proud moment when I found out that American Indian people were again competing in the Olympics and to have a remark like that just fly out of the mouth of someone hoisting the Oylimpics live is such a slap in the face to all the Proud American Indians living in America today and forever, a apology should be made on the air to all American Indian People!

The point is that its racist & wrong and he said it on national t.v. laughing about it! As an educated journalist he should have known better!

I do not see why your still condoning his racist behavior, he is a well educated journalist and should know better! He made the statement and was laughing about it!

I do not see why your still condoning his racist behavior, he is a well educated journalist and should know better! He made the statement and was laughing about it!

you are tripping, I never said one bad word…maybe you need to look up what you think was offensive. Not one word. Now, I really don't have time to go back and forth with your hate…May God Bless you…and keep you safe. (I'm abit concerned, you'll find something wrong with this one too. ) I'm assuming the word eloquent, is what offended you…it means "well spoken, powerful in meaning". Now, does that really offend you?

I think you need to reread my comments i didn't mean anything about you, I'im speaking about what Matt lauer said. What are you running the Matt Lauer fan club? YEAH god bless you.

If you read it correctly, it says your vocabulary ISN't lacking. now, how can you take that as a put down????

Condoning is your word, not mine, I don't believe anybody should be against ,or say things against another person, be it race or anything else that would offend. the point is well taken, and I AGREE. I'm curious, will you accept his apology, when given, on national television? I didn't say forget what he said, but will an apology be accepted? Please, I don't need an answer…just something for you to consider. I am thru with this subject.

Okay miss Top Commenter, Yes i would 100% accept his apology on national television! I am glad that you got my point.

Oh please — Why is every word (written or spoken) judged to see if it is possible for someone to be offended. Lighten up – worry about REAL things that should offend you!

This is one of the problems here in America, the reason for the offense is due to the facts of how the Native Americans were treated and then the government put lies in their books to teach false statements to the people to cover up the truth. Guess that goes to show ignorance on Matt Lauer's part.