Matt Lauer Intern, Damage Control: 'Today' Host Apologizes to FOX 8's Mark Zinni Via Twitter, 'Always Tried to Be Nice,' Ann Curry Drama, Anderson Cooper

Though he is in the middle of heated employment fiasco involving Ann Curry, Anderson Cooper and NBC, "Today" anchor Matt Lauer took some time on Twitter to respond to a former intern, Mark Zinni, about maybe mistreating the young journalist in his youth. After just one tweet, Lauer made it clear that he hoped that he was not too harsh on the intern. Zinni, who is now an anchor on FOX 8 in Cleveland, Ohio, then warned his followers to be careful what they tweet. Is this Lauer doing damage control amid the drama?

Here is the exchange:

@concede i was an intern there in '97, his first year on the job... how do i say this....? he was.... not nice.

— Mark Zinni (@MarkZinni) March 26, 2013

@markzinni huh? Always tried to be nice Mark. Sorry you didn'tthink so. Hope you're doing well.Matt — Matt Lauer (@MLauer) March 27, 2013

Zinni followed up a series of Twitter responses with this:

Will this be on my tombstone?

— Mark Zinni (@MarkZinni) March 28, 2013

Later, Zinni went onto his station's website to address the situation:

"I didn't slam the guy, I just made an honest comment. I'm not disgruntled but I am someone who's happy to be working at the best station in my hometown with wonderful people. By the way, Katie and Ann were great, but now I start my day with FOX 8 News in the Morning."

Mstarz recently covered the Matt Lauer "Today" drama. Here is an excerpt from a recent article covering reports of Anderson Cooper replacing Lauer:

NBC Today Show's Matt Lauer could be replaced by CNN's Anderson Cooper, according to reports that surfaced this week. Ever since the Ann Curry drama that has tainted America's beloved morning show, the ratings have dropped behind their long time rival Good Morning America.

Lauer, who was "at the top of his field" just a year ago, has been depicted as the mean guy who helped push his colleague off the show.

Lauer has denied having anything to do with Curry being "fired" from "Today", however many netizens and viewers doubt that Lauer is completely innocent.