Anatomy Of A Rumor: Other Woman In False Matt Lauer Report Was A Man

by Steve Krakauer | 4:50 pm, May 27th, 2010

» 3 comments

When the National Enquirer started the rumor about Matt Lauer cheating on his wife, it was disputed by Lauer, the Today show and more – and when HollyScoop.com reported it was with Alexis Houston, Whitney Houston‘s step-sister, GossipCop was there to clean up the mess – not true, not related to Whitney.

How much more BS could there be in this story? Well now we find out that Alexis Houston isn’t even Alexis Houston.

The New York Post has this new, and important, detail:

Alexis Houston — the singer who held a press conference last week to announce she never had sex with “Today” show host Matt Lauer — had some interesting yesterdays. She used to be a man who called himself Wellington Houston.

So to recap: never had an affair with Lauer, not related to Whitney, not even a woman. Wonderful.

When gossip sites start rumors that turn out not only to be false, but potentially purposely incorrect, and the story gets picked up by more established outlets – and the Enquirer makes it into a three-week story – this is what we get.

At least Gloria Allred got a chance to get involved.

Alexis Houston, Gossip Cop, Matt Lauer, National Enquirer

JohnSimpson

Ummm, that WAS a rumor about Matt.
GrrrlRomeo

Alexis Houston is a woman and she’s transsexual. To say she’s not a woman is transphobic anti-LGBT asshattery.
writer

If in doubt, Matt, check the hands. Women have longer index fingers than ring fingers. Opposite for men.