Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie's 'hearts were broken' over Matt Lauer scandal

The "Today" show's newly-announced co-anchors are opening up about the morning they learned that Matt Lauer had been fired from NBC after the network received a "detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior."

In a sit-down interview with People, Savannah Guthrie and her new co-anchor Hoda Kotb said that they're still devastated over the scandal.

SEE ALSO: Hoda Kotb named new co-anchor of NBC’s 'Today,' joins Savannah Guthrie

"I think you could see from the moment that the news happened that our hearts were broken, and in a lot of ways, they still are," Guthrie explained. "That feeling was shared through our whole whole newsroom and our whole 'Today' show staff, because it sounds like a cliché or a promo line, but it happens to be true."

"We are family, and we do love each other, and families do go through hard times," she continued. "When that happens in good families, you just get closer. You pull together and you focus on the foundation and what keeps you together. I think that's what we've all been trying to do."

See photos of Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb together:

Kotb echoed those sentiments, adding that she feels "a responsibility" to the "Today" staff.

"We ask how they're doing, we want them to feel good, we give them hugs," she said. "Just so they remember this is bigger than one person, it's bigger than Matt, it's bigger than me, it's bigger than Savannah, it's bigger than all of us. So I think Savannah said it right, we just shore up, we get together and we get stronger."

Guthrie agreed, saying that she's "trying to get comfortable with how complicated the feelings around all of it are, and it is complicated."

The pair, who jointly announced Lauer's exit from the "Today" show on November 29, revealed that they "said a prayer" in Guthrie's dressing room before going on air that morning.

SEE ALSO: 'Today' show co-hosts react to Hoda Kotb replacing Matt Lauer

"I won't forget it," Kotb said. "I said to Savannah after that prayer, 'We're gonna make it through this together.' We just sort of sat there and I was sort of on autopilot. I don't really remember a lot of it, but I do remember just sort of holding onto Savannah and saying it just wasn't in our hands anymore. It was in God's hands."

As for their ousted former colleague, Guthrie gave a vague update on his outlook and her continued struggle with making sense of how to move forward.

"We know he's working on his family," Guthrie revealed. "We know that for sure. Of course our hearts go out to the brave women who have told their stories. What we are experiencing and processing now is how to honor and remain a true friend to someone even in spite of learning things that are deeply disturbing. And we are trying to navigate that path with integrity."

See photos of Savannah Guthrie and Matt Lauer together:

More from AOL.com:
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle make unusual travel decision during New Year's trip to Monte Carlo
‘Fox & Friends’ on ‘California craziness': Now ‘you can be illegal and wasted on marijuana’
Dave Chapelle knocks Louis C.K.'s accusers: 'B---h, you don’t know how to hang up a phone?'