Lyin' Brian Williams slams 'fake news'

Brian Williams

Brian Williams, the disgraced former golden boy anchor of NBC's “Nightly News” knows a thing or two about "fake news," which may explain why the MSNBC host decided to tackle the hot-button topic and provide his own unique perspective on the dangers of failing to report the truth.

"As we talked about here last night, fake news played a role in this election and continues to find a wide audience," said Williams during the Wednesday broadcast of MSNBC's "The 11th Hour."

Not surprisingly, Williams' comment on "fake news" and the election of Donald Trump didn't go unnoticed by those familiar with the newsman's past penchant for storytelling and his well-known compulsion to exaggerate his journalistic bona fides.

"Yes, Williams actually said that, and while managing to keep a straight face. Just giving the guy credit where it's due," snarked Jack Coleman of Newsbusters. "His decrying of 'fake news' suggests that MSNBC is no place for this sort of thing. But if that were true, shouldn't MSNBC refrain from having Brian Williams – of all people in the network's employ – report on fake news to begin with? At the very least, shouldn't some sort of disclaimer run across the bottom of the screen, something to the effect – 'Warning: MSNBC anchor condemning fake news has repeatedly engaged in the practice.'"

"If there's an Emmy for chutzpah, Williams just won it," added Coleman.

Game-show host and Trump supporter Chuck Woolery took to Twitter on Thursday to weigh in on the "fake news" controversy.

As WND reported, Williams also had tongues wagging in July over his breaking-news announcement about the Nice, France, terror attack. He used the phrase "plowing over" while wrapping up a discussion on the carnage inflicted by a terrorist who used a truck to kill holiday revelers.

In 2015, Williams was suspended for six months without pay and eventually booted from his position as managing editor and anchor of NBC's "Nightly News" amid the controversy generated by his comments about his reporting during the Iraq war and Hurricane Katrina.

NBC News released a statement when Williams was initially suspended that read:

While on Nightly News on Friday, January 30, 2015, Brian misrepresented events which occurred while he was covering the Iraq War in 2003. It then became clear that on other occasions Brian had done the same while telling that story in other venues. This was wrong and completely inappropriate for someone in Brian’s position. In addition, we have concerns about comments that occurred outside NBC News while Brian was talking about his experiences in the field. 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.

Williams later apologized for claiming to have been aboard a helicopter in Iraq when it was hit by enemy fire.

“I made a mistake in recalling the events of 12 years ago,” Williams told NBC News viewers.

He ultimately lost his top-rated NBC anchor chair and was assigned a lesser role within the news division with a late-night slot on MSNBC.

Following his suspension, Williams was mercilessly made fun of by some of the biggest names in comedy during the 40th anniversary special of “Saturday Night Live."

Jerry Seinfeld said he was surprised by a little-known piece of information about “SNL.”

“You know there are so many things about ‘Saturday Night Live’ that people don’t know. For example, one of the original cast members in 1975 was Brian Williams,” Seinfeld clowned to rousing laughter. “I don’t know if that’s true, but I never heard that. It doesn’t sound true. It might not be.”

Watch Jerry Seinfeld mock Brian Williams:

Earlier this year, Williams was targeted for ire when he compared President Obama to Richard Pryor. He was also criticized in recent months for what some viewers said was his overly harsh coverage of Trump and for his reports on the shooting of police in Dallas.

While covering the news of the shooting, Williams started referencing the death of President John F. Kennedy, which occurred just blocks from the site of the sniper-cops’ killing.