The NBC Nightly News anchor came under fire last week after U.S. military personnel questioned his story that he was aboard a downed helicopter.
Brad Barket/Invision / AP Brad Barket
The suspension comes after Williams was caught "misremembering" — a word he used in a later apology — a story about coming under fire in a helicopter while reporting from Iraq in 2003.
NBC News President Deborah Turness issued a memo to staff about the suspension, calling Williams' comments "wrong and completely inappropriate for someone in Brian's position." Turness also wrote that Williams' "actions are inexcusable" but that he "deserves a second chance and we are rooting for him."
Williams did not issue a statement Tuesday, but on Saturday told colleagues he was temporarily stepping down because it had "become painfully apparent to me that I am presently too much a part of the news, due to my actions."
Lester Holt, who has been filling in as the anchor of NBC Nightly News, will continue in the role during Williams' six-month suspension.
Williams recanted the story on Feb. 4. Later that same day, he spent about a minute on-air apologizing for the story, saying he "bungled" it and that rather than being the helicopter that was shot down he was in a "following" craft.
No comments:
Post a Comment