The former anchor of the American television network National Broadcasting Corporation’s “Today” show, Matt Lauer, who was sacked on Wednesday over allegations of sexual misconduct at the workplace, has issued an apology for his actions.

In a statement read out on the show on Thursday, Lauer (pictured above) said he had no words to express his sorrow and regret for the pain he had caused others by his words and actions.

“To the people I have hurt, I am truly sorry,” the journalist said. “As I am writing this, I realise the depth of the damage and disappointment I have left behind at home and at NBC.”

He claimed that though some of what was said about him in the aftermath of his dismissal from NBC News was untrue, “there is enough truth in these stories to make me feel embarrassed and ashamed”.

Lauer ended his statement saying that he regretted that his shame was now shared by the people close to him.

Meanwhile, two more women have come forward accusing Lauer of sexual harassment, Variety reported. The magazine spoke to three women, whose accounts of sexual harassment they faced at Lauer’s hands were corroborated by their friends and colleagues they confided in at the time.

In a message to employees after firing Lauer on Wednesday, NBC News chief Andrew Lack said: “While it is the first complaint about his behaviour in the over twenty years he’s been at NBC News, we were also presented with reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident.”