It was crow-eating time on Wednesday’s edition of “NBC Nightly News” as anchor Brian Williams retracted a story he’d previously told on-air about his time covering the Iraq War in 2003.
“I want to apologize,” Williams said, looking into the camera during his broadcast. “I made a mistake in recalling the events of 12 years ago.”
In a previous newscast, the anchor claimed he was riding aboard a U.S. Air Force helicopter that was hit by enemy rockets. Soon after making the statement, soldiers who were onboard when that attack happened took to social media and called Williams out.
“I said I was travelling in an aircraft that was hit by RPG fire. I was instead in a following aircraft,” he said on Wednesday. “This was a bungled attempt, by me, to thank one special veteran and by extension, our brave military men and women. I hope they know they have my greatest respect and also now my apology.”
With the withdrawal, Williams joined a long list of embarrassed public figures who’ve made on-air apologies in recent years. Here are some of the most memorable:
Tiger Woods
Prior to November 2009, Tiger Woods was arguably the most recognizable — and most respected — name in American sports. But after the golfer became embroiled in a salacious public scandal regarding his marital infidelities, he was persona non grata. The scandal reached its boiling point in February 2010, when Woods gave a lengthy televised apology to the nation.
Elisabeth Hasselbeck
In May 2010, then-ESPN reporter Erin Andrews was a contestant on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” just months after she was the victim of a voyeurism plot, in which a co-worker filmed her nude on hidden camera before posting the video online. Elisabeth Hasselbeck, co-host of TV’s “The View” at the time, went on her show and ripped Andrews’ “Dancing with the Stars” wardrobe choices, saying the man who filmed her, “Could have waited 12 weeks and seen this … without the prison time.” The next day, Hasselbeck gave a tearful apology to Andrews on “The View.”
Melissa Harris-Perry
In late 2013, MSNBC anchor Melissa Harris-Perry gave a tearful on-air apology of her own, after mocking Mitt Romney and his family on television. Harris-Perry was part of an MSNBC panel that made fun of the former presidential candidate for adopting an African-American child. She gave an emotional apology on air the following week.
Ray Rice
Last February, NFL star Ray Rice became the most hated man in sports after video surfaced of him punching his then-fiancee in the face inside an elevator. The attack led to Rice’s termination from the Baltimore Ravens and, more importantly, a nationwide conversation about domestic violence. That summer, Rice, made a public apology, saying domestic violence “shouldn’t be tolerated.”
Rachel Smalley
The latest victim of a hot microphone, New Zealand radio host Rachel Smalley had to make an embarrassing apology last April after she made disparaging remarks about her fellow countrywomen on air. Unaware that her microphone was still on, Smalley referred to New Zealand women as “a bunch of lardos” and “heifers.” The journalist was immediately berated in the media and made a tearful apology for the “flippant comment,” on the radio.
Mark McGwire
In 1998, MLB slugger Mark McGwire became a household name when he broke the league’s long-standing single-season home run record. Twelve years later, he would break down and apologize on camera for using steroids during his baseball career. Speaking with Bob Costas on the MLB Network in January 2010, McGwire finally came clean.
Fox News Channel
Having one anchor make an on-air apology is embarrassing enough but just last month, Fox News Channel made four anchors atone for errors the network made regarding Europe’s Muslim population. It wasn’t the first on-air apology from Fox News, who also bowed in April 2014 after the network aired a misleading graphic about the Affordable Care Act.
Clint Davis is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @MrClintDavis.
