Brian Williams Suspended from NBC for 6 Months

2 minute read
By Tessa Berenson

Brian Williams has been suspended from NBC for six months without pay.

The network released a statement Tuesday saying that the Nightly News anchor has been suspended as managing editor and anchor effective immediately, and Lester Holt will continue to substitute for him.

Williams has been the subject of controversy after it became clear that he had told a false account of coming under enemy fire in Iraq in 2003. The statement called his remarks “wrong and completely inappropriate”:

While on Nightly News on Friday, January 30, 2015, Brian misrepresented events which occurred while he was covering the Iraq War in 2003. It then became clear that on other occasions Brian had done the same while telling that story in other venues. This was wrong and completely inappropriate for someone in Brian’s position.
In addition, we have concerns about comments that occurred outside NBC News while Brian was talking about his experiences in the field.
As Managing Editor and Anchor of Nightly News, Brian has a responsibility to be truthful and to uphold the high standards of the news division at all times…
As I’m sure you understand, this was a very hard decision. Certainly there will be those who disagree. But we believe this suspension is the appropriate and proportionate action.

In December, Williams signed a five-year contract with NBC worth $10 million a year, according to the New York Times.

See Brian Williams Through The Years

Brian Williams Senior Year 1977Mater Dei High School, New Monmouth, NJAs the Editorial Editor for the school newspaperCredit: Seth Poppel/Yearbook Library
Brian Williams was the Editorial Editor for his school newspaper seen here on the far right during his Senior Year at Mater Dei High School in New Monmouth, N.J. in 1977.Seth Poppel—Yearbook Library
GEORGE W. BUSH SPEAKS WITH MEDIA MEMBERS ABOARD HIS CAMPAIGN PLANE.
From Left: Brian Williams, President George W. Bush and AP writer Glenn Johnson talk aboard Bush's campaign plane in Florence S.C. on Feb. 17, 2000.Reuters
BROKAW SIGNS OFF
From Left: Brian Williams poses with NBC Anchor Tom Brokaw in New York City prior to Brokaw's last broadcast on Dec. 1, 2004. Richard Drew—AP
TV KATRINA COVERAGE
Brian Williams during a break in the "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams" show in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005. Dwaine Scott—NBC/AP
NBC News
Brian Williams reports from Camp Liberty in Baghdad on March 8, 2007.Jeff Riggins—NBC/Getty Images
Inside the Obama White House: Brian Williams Reports
From Left: President Barack Obama and Brian Williams takes a look at what happens in the White House and the West Wing during a day in the life of the Obama administration on May 29, 2009.Subrata De—NBC/Getty Images
Saturday Night Live
From Left: Amy Poehler, Brian Williams and Seth Meyers on 'Saturday Night LIve' on Nov. 3, 2007.Dana Edelson—NBC/Getty Images
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon - Season 1
Jimmy Fallon and Brian Williams "Slow Jam the News" on 'The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon' on Dec. 2, 2014.Douglas Gorenstein—NBC/Getty Images
"Girls" Season Four Premiere - After Party
From Left: Brian Williams, Allison Williams and Jane Stoddard Williams attend the "Girls" season four series premiere after party at The Museum of Natural History on Jan. 5, 2015.Jamie McCarthy—Getty Images
On Jan, 29, 2015, Brian Williams accompanied Army Command Sergeant Major Tim Terpak, pictured here next to Williams, to a hockey game at Madison Square Garden in New York City
Brian Williams embraces Army Command Sergeant Major Tim Terpak at a hockey game at Madison Square Garden in New York on Jan. 29, 2015, where Terpak was honored. Williams admitted to conflating events when describing his experiences in combat with Terpak during the Iraq war. On Feb. 10, he was suspended without pay for six months.James Devaney—GC Images

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Write to Tessa Berenson at tessa.Rogers@time.com