Ann Curry’s Last Days On ‘Today Show’ Were “Professional Torture”; Stelter Book Excerpt Reveals Plot To Oust Curry Was Called “Operation Bambi”

Ann Curry's firing from "Today," was obviously painful for Matt Lauer's co-host, as she cried when announcing her departure from the morning news show, but nobody knew how deep the insults to Curry went. Brian Stelter's new book reveals shameful details about Curry's ousting from the show at the hands of her colleagues, who called the plan to force Curry out of her dream role as co-host "Operation Bambi".

Stelter revealed that the plan to oust Ann Curry as "Today" show host was so intricately planned that executive producer Jim Bell named the plot 'Operation Bambi'. Bell allegedly chose the name for the plot after a friend told him that firing the journalist would be like "killing Bambi."

A portion of the book ran on nytimes.com on Thursday in which Stelter reveals that Curry felt bullied and marginalized by the "Today" crew. Stelter wrote, "Curry felt that the boys' club atmosphere behind the scenes at 'Today' undermined her from the start, and she told friends that her final months were a form of professional torture."

A "Today" staff member told Stelter, "A lot of time in the control room was spent making fun of Ann's outfit choices or just generally messing with her." Some of the pranks aimed at Curry included moving Curry's personal belongings into a coat closet, implying she had already been kicked off the show.

After Curry wore a bright yellow dress one morning, staff in the control room allegedly Photoshopped a picture of Big Bird next to the co-host and childishly asked "who wore it best?"

Stelter revealed that Curry was doomed from the moment she accepted the co-host position, as executive producer Bell never wanted her to take the spot. But, Bell worried that if she left, she might end up as a competitor at another network.

As is common knowledge, Matt Lauer was no fan of Curry's. Lauer allegedly told a production assistant about Curry, "I can't believe I am sitting next to this woman." Lauer denies making the comment.  

Stelter wrote in the excerpt that Curry has mostly kept to herself in her Connecticut home after "Operation Bambi." He wrote, "She still often woke before dawn as if she were about to go on the air. Some mornings, she cried as she read e-mail and twitter messages from fans."

NBC has recently overhauled its deteriorating morning show, but the anchor changes, music shifts, and promises to focus on more 'uplifting' news haven't saved "Today's" ratings. ABC competitor "Good Morning America" continues to trump the NBC morning show, and it looks like "Today" isn't going to recover its reputation anytime soon.

Stelter's book about the "Today" show titled Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV comes out on April 23.