NEW YORK — “Today” show host Matt Lauer was fired for what NBC News said Wednesday was “inappropriate sexual behavior.”

NBC news chief Andrew Lack said in a staff memo that Monday NBC received a complaint about Lauer’s behavior and determined it was a clear violation of company standards. NBC said the misconduct started when Lauer and a network employee were stationed at the Sochi Olympics in 2014 and continued beyond that.

While it was the first complaint ever lodged against Lauer, Lack said, “we were also presented with reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident.”

“Today” show colleagues Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb announced the firing on the show, Guthrie called Lauer her friend who is beloved by many at NBC, and said she was “heartbroken for my colleague who came forward to tell her story and any other women who have their own stories to tell.”