News anchor Brian Williams has said that he will take a leave of absence from NBC Nightly News amid the controversy surrounding his story of being a passenger in a helicopter that took fire in Iraq in 2003.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Williams issued a memo to the show's staff announcing that Lester Holt will take over his position as anchor for an unspecified amount of time.
"In the midst of a career spent covering and consuming news, it has become painfully apparent to me that I am presently too much a part of the news, due to my actions,” Williams said. "Upon my return, I will continue my career-long effort to be worthy of the trust of those who place their trust in us."
Williams has made headlines recently after his story about a helicopter he was riding while in Iraq was shot by a RPG. The story was retold while Williams was honoring a veteran at a New York Rangers game, but was debunked by members of the 159th Aviation Regiment's Chinook crew who said Williams was nowhere near the helicopter that was shot. Instead, the crew said Williams was following the helicopter and was an hour behind the incident.
During NBC Nightly News on Wednesday, Williams issued an apology for his false claims. The news anchor said he made a mistake in mis-remembering the story.
Credit: B. Ach/INFevents.com