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# Brian Williams Says Lies Were 'Ego-Driven'

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<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/o5agVDYk.m3u8" -->
## Video: Brian Williams Says Lies Were 'Ego-Driven'

[Watch (HLS stream): Brian Williams Says Lies Were 'Ego-Driven'](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/o5agVDYk.m3u8) (1:02)

![Brian Williams Says Lies Were 'Ego-Driven'](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/o5agVDYk/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2015-06-19. Former NBC News anchor Brian Williams sat down with Matt Lauer for Williams' first interview since admitting he exaggerated reporting experiences._


---

Jul 27, 2023 6:26 PM UTC

---

## More From This Series

[All Videos](https://time.com/video/)

[Brian Williams' Future At NBC: Can He Regain Viewers' Trust?](/video/3qMPuaok/)

### Brian Williams' Future At NBC: Can He Regain Viewers' Trust?

[Brian Williams Steps Back From Anchoring Nightly News](/video/bIzTekD2/)

### Brian Williams Steps Back From Anchoring Nightly News

[10 Questions for Brian Williams](/video/gW6ZfvQs/)

### 10 Questions for Brian Williams

---


## Transcript

Ousted NBC News anchor Brian Williams gave an interview about the inaccuracies in stories he told about covering the Iraq War. I said things that weren't true. I am sorry for what happened here. I am different as a result, and I expect to be held to a different standard. Before this, Williams had said that he misremembered or exaggerated what happened while he was reporting on the Iraq War. I made a mistake in recalling the events of 12 years ago. I want to apologize. Now, Williams says those inaccuracies were driven by ego. This was clearly Ego driven, the desire to better my role in a story I was already in.

On Thursday, NBC announced Lester Holt will become NBC's Nightly News anchor. He's been filling that role since February, when Williams was suspended. NBC confirmed Thursday Williams will return to TV as a breaking news and special reports anchor for MSNBC.

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