NBC Suspends Brian Williams for Six Months Without Pay

The suspension, announced Tuesday evening, is effective immediately. It comes following revelations Williams "misrepresented" events while covering the Iraq War in 2003.

Williams had claimed that an Army helicopter he was flying in was shot down in Iraq in 2003. After being called out by members of the military who were at the scene, Williams recanted his story.

Brian Williams reports from a flooded New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

© AP Photo / NBC, Dwaine Scott

Following that admission, NBC revealed it was investigating his reports for misinformation, including following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, where he claimed he saw bodies float down the street of the French Quarter in New Orleans.

The French Quarter had not flooded.

The anchor announced he was taking what he called a voluntary hiatus on Sunday.

A statement from NBC News President Deborah Turness announced the suspension. 

"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," the statement read.

"We felt it would have been wrong to disregard the good work Brian has done and the special relationship he has forged with our viewers over 22 years.  Millions of Americans have turned to him every day, and he has been an important and well-respected part of our organization." 

"Brian has jeopardized the trust millions of Americans place in NBC News," added NBC Universal CEO Steve Burke. "His actions are inexcusable and this suspension is severe and appropriate." 

Richard Esposito, senior executive producer of investigations for NBC News, is leading the network's ongoing inquiry into Williams’ claims. Esposito is working with NBC’s legal counsel.

NBC says Lester Holt will continue to substitute for Williams on the NBC Nightly News.

Since Williams' report about the helicopter crash was revealed to be false, the Internet has been having a field day mocking the newsman.

Some memes show him in the anchor's chair on set, narrating himself into scenes from movies like "The Lord of the Rings" and "Star Wars."

— oculus (@daddy_san) February 9, 2015

His face has been superimposed in famous photographs from the Civil War and World War II, as well as Leonard da Vinci's The Last Supper.

The hashtag #BrianWilliamsMisremembers has gained traction on Twitter.