Brian Williams's lie about a helicopter in Iraq is really coming back to haunt him- it's just been announce that the beloved NBC anchor has been suspended from his job for six months, without pay. Williams's suspension begins immediatly, and while he's gone (although honestly, his reputation's soured so badly this week that do you think he'll ever return?) Lester Holt will be the anchor of "NBC Nightly News."
NBC revealed Williams's suspension to the world in an official statement.
"We have decided today to suspend Brian Williams as Managing Editor and Anchor of NBC Nightly News for six months. The suspension will be without pay and is effective immediately. We let Brian know of our decision earlier today. Lester Holt will continue to substitute Anchor the NBC Nightly News."
This whole fiasco began when Williams was revealed to have been lying about being shot down in a helicopter while in Iraq in 2003. Williams claimed the helicopter he was in was attacked with a rocket-propelled grenade and forced to land. Later, soldiers who actually were on that helicopter revealed that Williams was lying- he had been in the helicopter behind the one that was shot down. Williams's helicopter, it turns out, had landed safely and without incident.
Since then, the story's spiraled out of control and it's caused Williams to be booted (temporarily, at least for now) from his job.
Apparently, a few supporters of WIlliams have spoken out in his defense since the scandal began.
Alan Colmes of Fox News said that getting rid of Williams over this incident was a "mistake," and was unjustly ruining Williams's career. Dan Abrams, who founded Mediaite, called out the media for the frenzy with which they descended on Williams, and said that the punishment he's recieved has been far stronger than what he deserved. But it's too late for that now- that suspension makes the black mark on Williams record a permanent thing.
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