NBC's Brian Williams Admits Chopper Whopper

Brian Williams

NBC News anchor Brian Williams acknowledged yesterday (February 4th) that a story he's told for years about being on a helicopter in Iraq in 2003 that was forced down after coming under fire and being hit by an RPG isn't true.

Williams was called on this story after he told it last Friday during a tribute to a retired soldier and the Stars and Stripes contacted crew members who were on the helicopter.

They said Williams wasn't on board, and instead arrived on a different aircraft an hour later. Williams apologized, saying he "misremembered" the details of the story.

He said, "I would not have chosen to make this mistake. I don't know what screwed up in my mind that caused me to conflate one aircraft with another." He stated, "Nobody's trying to steal anyone's valor. Quite the contrary: I was and remain a civilian journalist covering the stories of those who volunteered for duty."

The admission is a rare black mark for Williams, a poised, veteran newsman who has anchored NBC's news since 2004 and has endeared himself to non-news audiences through appearances on "30 Rock." "The Tonight Show" and other shows. No word from NBC on discipline or not.

Meanwhile, Brian Williams MisRemembers is trending on Twitter.

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