Katie Couric says ‘Today’ co-anchor Bryant Gumbel gave her ‘endless s – – t’ for going on maternity leave

nypost.com:

Katie Couric accused Bryant Gumbel of having an “incredibly sexist attitude” about her maternity leave when they worked together on the “Today” show.

Couric appeared Sunday on Bill Maher’s “Club Random” podcast where the host brought up Gumbel, whom he called a “friend” and a “guy’s guy.” “He’s a guy’s guy, you got that right,” Couric, 67, said with a giant smirk. “He was prickly, but, what a talent.

He’s such a seamless broadcaster, eloquent. When that countdown would happen — five, four, three, two, one — he would just hit it perfect.”“Smooth as silk,” Maher, 68, interjected.Gumbel began anchoring “Today” in 1982 and was joined by Couric in 1991 — the same year she welcomed her first daughter, Ellie.

The duo co-anchored together until he left the show in 1997.“Complicated guy, though,” Couric continued on the podcast, alluding to some not-so-fond memories of Gumbel. “I think … really talented guy, incredibly smart.”“He got mad at me because I was doing something on maternity leave,” she revealed. “And he was giving me endless s – – t for taking like a month or two off.