Matt Lauer reportedly 'testing the waters for a public comeback'

Updated

Matt Lauer is reportedly already planning a comeback.

Less than five months after being fired from the "Today" show by NBC News after allegations of sexual misconduct in the workplace, Page Six reports that the veteran news anchor is "testing the waters for a public comeback."

The outlet reported that Lauer was seen dining with sporting-goods mogul Mitch Modell at Omar at Vaucluse on the Upper East Side last Friday just a table over from Donald Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen.

After listing his Manhattan home and being forced out of his Hamptons home by soon-to-be ex-wife Annette Roque last month, Lauer is "coming out of hiding" and "ready to start his life," according to friends.

SEE ALSO: Matt Lauer moves out of his family’s Hamptons home amid divorce

The report comes just a few weeks after Us Weekly reported that Roque had a difficult time getting Lauer to finally move out of their shared Hamptons home, which is where he's been laying low since his late November firing last year.

See photos of Matt Lauer and wife Annette Roque:

"Getting him to move out was quite daunting because Matt was refusing to leave," an insider said. "It was all about Matt, who expressed concern about how it would look to the media in the wake of being fired by NBC. Annette was simply at a loss for words because she had hoped that he would recognize this was best for her and the kids."

Lauer and Roque are officially headed for divorce after nearly 20 years of marriage -- and eight years after Roque initially filed for divorce back in 2010, before ultimately pulling her filing.

Though they have "minimal [communication] on good days," it's clear that the couple is trying to do what's best for their three children Jack, 16, Romy, 14, and Thijs, 11.

SEE ALSO: Matt Lauer dealt another blow amid reports he's eyeing a 'comeback'

"Matt will always be more concerned about public perception and obviously doesn’t want to make headlines for being forced out of the house," the Us Weekly source added of Lauer's reluctance to move. "Annette told him that there would never be any limitations on access to their kids."

Though it's unclear how successful such a quick comeback attempt would go -- none of the high-profile men who have been publicly accused of sexual misconduct has been able to do so -- it's clear that the former "Today" show host had been growing "restless" and "lonely" while holed up in the Hamptons.

See photos of Matt Lauer and his family together:

"Matt seems to be under the impression that if he waits this news cycle out, this will go away and he can have a comeback," a source told Entertainment Tonight last month. "He has seen a lot of people come back and hopes he will too. For right now, his friends feel that isn't realistic. His team has discussed a public apology, but agreed disappearing right now seems to be for the best."

Matt Lauer was replaced by Hoda Kotb as the co-anchor of the "Today" show, making Kotb and Savannah Guthrie the first-ever all-female duo to anchor a broadcast morning show.

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