Ann Curry opens up about controversial 'Today' show exit

Ann Curry is finally opening up about her controversial exit from the "Today" show back in 2012.

The former co-anchor left NBC's premiere morning show amid massive speculation of drama behind-the-scenes, but she had never publicly spoken about the ordeal until now.

SEE ALSO: Katie Couric breaks silence on Matt Lauer: ‘This was not the Matt we knew’

In a revealing cover story for People's latest issue, Curry admits that the rocky exit from "Today" after nearly two decades of appearing on the show was "hard," but she's gotten past it.

"I'm not going to say it wasn't hard," she said. "But I had to let go. And I learned that when you not only let go, but open your arms wide and learn the lessons from that experience -- no matter how bad -- can teach you, that's when you rise."

Both before and after Curry left the show, reports and gossip surfaced that Lauer was the person behind her sudden departure. Sources alleged that Lauer didn't like his "chemistry" with Curry, so he decided to push her out entirely.

"I want to be honest and that is that it hurt a lot to feel that you weren't wanted anymore," Curry added. "So, I can't lie about that."

See photos of Ann Curry and Matt Lauer together:

Curry admits in the interview that the scandal, which ended with her tearful exit announcement live on "Today" in June of 2012, made her angry, but it taught her to use her anger for something greater.

"I do know from experience that hanging onto anger weighs you down, and it's very hard to rise with it -- unless you can channel it," she explained. "I have found that when things are really bumming me out, the best thing I can do it to channel it into some good."

Additionally, a silver lining of the ordeal is that she's gotten to spend exponentially more time with her family.

"I've been able to make up a lot of lost time with my children, my family," Curry said. "Family really is everything."

As for her experience with men in the workplace during her decades-long career in journalism, Curry said that she's she's had mostly good experiences, though it's clear that something needs to change.

"Most of the men I’ve worked with have been exemplary," she told People. "I feel real hope that change is coming. That our daughters are not going to have to face what the majority of women in this country who’ve entered the workplace have had to face."

Ann Curry will return to television when her six-part PBS docu-series "We'll Meet Again" premieres on Jan. 23.

More "Today" show anchors through the years:

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