On Thursday evening, Brian Williams, who is an MSNBC host and the former “NBC Nightly News” anchor and managing editor stepped down for the last time at NBC.
The MSNBC anchor wrapped up his nighttime MSNBC Show “The 11th Hour” by recalling and looking back on his memories of 28 years with the network and recounting his times spent there as well, and this also included eight Olympic games and seven presidential elections.
His exit comes right after one month after the news broke that he is thinking of leaving the network.
Williams Warned Against Extremism
In his on-air goodbye, Williams cautioned against chauvinism in the country.
Williams said “The truth is I’m not a liberal or a conservative. I’m an institutionalist,” continued to add “I believe in this place and my love of country I yield to no one. But the darkness on the edge of town has spread to the main roads and highways and neighborhoods. It’s now at the local bar, and the bowling alley at the school board in the grocery store.”
He also rebuked elected authorities he believes have “joined the mob” and who have “decided to burn it all down with us inside.”
Msnbc President Had Sent a Note Last Month Mentioning Williams’ Resignation
Last month, in a note to staff, the President of MSNBC, Rashida Jones said that Williams would step down from his role by the end of this year so that he can “spend time with his family.”
Further, she said that Williams exposed “countless” crucial news and stirred up the best journalists to his programs.
Last month, in a note to fellow colleagues, Williams had written that “good friends were in great supply at NBC. I was fortunate that everyone I worked with made me better at my job.”
Back in 2015, when he used to be the anchor of “NBC Nightly News,” he had been suspended from the network for a period of six months following he broke a false story regarding his helicopter’s having been struck with a rocket-compelled grenade. He accepted on the show that he had “made a mistake in recalling the events of 12 years ago.”
Following his suspension, Williams switched to MSNBC, and then he launched “The 11th Hour.”
Then, Lester Holt came as his replacement and continued to be the main anchor of “NBC Nightly News.”
The MSNBC anchor didn’t speak with regard to his intentions of leaving the network in public going forward but last month in his note to NBC staff, he mentioned that he has a lot he wishes to do and believes that he will “pop up again somewhere.”
On Thursday night, he expressed that sentiment in his farewell.
He said “I will probably find it impossible to be silent and stay away from you (the viewer) and lights and cameras,” adding further “After I experiment with relaxation and find out what I’ve missed and what’s out there.”
He also expressed his gratitude to the staff and crew who worked together with him for such a long year and also to his longtime audience as well.
HE said while concluding “Every weeknight for decades now, I’ve said some version of the same thing: ‘Thank you for being here with us,’” adding further “Us, meaning the people who produce this broadcast for you. And you…Well, without you, there is no us.”
He then added “I’ll show myself out until we meet again. That is our broadcast for this Thursday night. Thank you for being here with us. And for all my colleagues at the networks of NBC News, goodnight.”