NEW YORK — Embattled NBC News anchor Brian Williams is backing out of a scheduled appearance on David Letterman’s “Late Show” on Thursday.
That news from NBC came Sunday, a day after Williams said he was stepping away from NBC’s “Nightly News” as the network investigates the anchor’s admission that he had told a false story about being on a helicopter hit by a grenade while reporting on the Iraq war.
Williams had told the story of his helicopter being under attack during a previous “Late Show” interview with Letterman. He apologized for the statements Wednesday.
NBC News has refused to comment on when or whether Williams will return and who will decide his future. Weekend anchor Lester Holt is filling in for Williams on the “Nightly News” for at least the next several days.
Questions also have been raised about Williams’ claim that he saw a body or bodies in the Hurricane Katrina floodwaters that hit New Orleans in 2005. His remarks in 2006 drew suspicion because there was relatively little flooding in the French Quarter, where Williams was staying.
