NBC announced that it has taken Nightly News anchor Brian Williams off the air for at least six months. This decision, applauded by many members of the media, comes after Williams publicly admitted to lying about being in an American military helicopter shot down over Iraq in 2003.
For the time being, NBC news anchor Lester Holt will anchor the Nightly News. However, several national media outlets are calling for the change to be permanent. Many feel that Williams has lost his credibility and NBC should either consider Holt as Williams’ replacement or find someone else to take over the show.
Whether or not Holt replaces Williams, media outlets continue to give their take on the scandal’s fallout. Some hope Williams can somehow save his career, while others aren’t so forgiving.
.@MichaelWolffNYC Offers Solution to the Brian Williams Problem: End ‘Nightly News’ http://t.co/wqzuAaYk94 pic.twitter.com/IL4jHuvbCS
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 11, 2015
For NBC, the suspension of Brian Williams provides a temporary solution to the crisis that has engulfed the network http://t.co/1GuE1hASqf — NYT Business (@nytimesbusiness) February 11, 2015
Suspending Brian Williams buys NBC News time to consider his replacement. http://t.co/tgMXdqPglf
— Poynter (@Poynter) February 11, 2015
Stars & Stripes reporter: “No satisfaction” from seeing Brian Williams suspended http://t.co/YBJdP8PG5g — POLITICO (@politico) February 11, 2015
How Brian Williams lost his gravitas to NBC’s relentless marketing machine http://t.co/sCJbwZgjuo via @soniasaraiya pic.twitter.com/eMsgbAwhZp
— Salon.com (@Salon) February 11, 2015
NBCUniversal CEO called #BrianWilliams suspension “severe and appropriate.” #Kellyfile pic.twitter.com/hcS0lzN7xd
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) February 11, 2015
Some even suggest that The Daily Show’s outgoing host, comedian Jon Stewart, should take over the Nightly News.
“Even @TheTweetOfGod” is something that got written. http://t.co/EJIN8IpCN5 pic.twitter.com/RTmYusAwND — Joseph Weisenthal (@TheStalwart) February 11, 2015
Why Jon Stewart and Brian Williams should just switch jobs http://t.co/Kq7jdk9M09
— Washington Post (@washingtonpost) February 11, 2015
Stewart revealed his sentiment over the ongoing affair during his own nightly show. He took Williams to task for lying while berating national media outlets like CNN and Fox News for cultivating an environment where exaggerated news stories, like Williams’, are acceptable.
Jon Stewart rips Brian Williams but saves his best shots for the media calling for his head http://t.co/v6dv2UBOhQ
— Salon.com (@Salon) February 11, 2015
This is an ongoing story. Check back often for our breaking updates on Brian Williams.