NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams says he is taking himself off air “for several days”, amid questions over false claims he came under fire in Iraq.
Brian Williams said it had become “painfully apparent” that he was too much a part of the news.
The anchor repeatedly told a story about being shot down in a chopper in Iraq but veterans disputed his account.
Brian Williams, the most-watched network anchor in the US, blamed the “fog of memory” for the lapse.
He said he would not be presenting his nightly NBC show for several days while the network investigated his claims.
“Upon my return, I will continue my career-long effort to be worthy of the trust of those who place their trust in us,” Brian Williams said in a statement.
On February 4, Brian Williams made an apology on air over his Iraq story.
“I made a mistake in recalling the events of 12 years ago,” he said.
“I want to apologize. I said I was travelling in an aircraft that was hit by RPG [rocket-propelled grenade] fire. I was instead in a following aircraft.”
Brian Williams’ apology came after veterans who were on the helicopter that was hit challenged his version of events.
One of them, Flight engineer Lance Reynolds, wrote: “Sorry dude, I don’t remember you being on my aircraft. I do remember you walking up about an hour after we had landed to ask me what had happened.”
Questions have also been raised about Brian Williams’ coverage of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, with one health official challenging a claim he contracted dysentery reporting on the event.
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NBC’s Brian Williams has apologized after a story he repeatedly told about coming under fire in Iraq was revealed to be untrue.
Brian Williams, one of America’s most famous news anchors, said he was on a helicopter forced down in 2003, but veterans have now disputed his account.
Brian Williams, the longest-serving network anchor in the US, has often recounted his experience, but now blames the “fog of memory”.
“I made a mistake in recalling the events of 12 years ago,” he said.
“I want to apologize. I said I was travelling in an aircraft that was hit by RPG [rocket-propelled grenade] fire. I was instead in a following aircraft.”
Brian Williams said his account was “a bungled attempt by me to thank one special veteran and by extension our brave military men and women, veterans everywhere, those who have served while I did not”.
He repeated the story as recently as January 30, describing his ordeal on TV while paying tribute to a retired soldier who helped protect the grounded aircraft and crew.
Brian Williams’ apology came after veterans who were on the helicopter that was hit posted comments on the broadcaster’s Facebook page.
One wrote: “Sorry dude, I don’t remember you being on my aircraft.”
Flight engineer Lance Reynolds, who was on the chopper that was hit, told military newspaper Stars and Stripes: “It was something personal for us that was kind of life-changing for me. I know how lucky I was to survive it.”
“It felt like a personal experience that someone else wanted to participate in and didn’t deserve to participate in.”
Some in the US media say the admission by Brian Williams may harm his career.
NBC has not said whether Brian Williams will face disciplinary proceedings, the Washington Post reports.
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