Brian Williams Scored As Talk Show Entertainer, But Did He Turn News Into ‘Edutainment’? Morality Clause Concern [Video]

Everyone agrees that Brian Williams knows how to tell a story, especially talk show hosts such as Ellen DeGeneres and David Letterman, who loved having him as a guest. But as he repeatedly basked in applause in his 80 entertainment talk show appearances, did Williams gradually blur the line and tell stories in his role as news anchor? That’s what happened, creating a serious risk to Brian’s future as a news anchor, according to the Washington Post.

Between 2006 and 2011, Williams delighted viewers on entertainment shows including Late Show With David Letterman, The Tonight Show, Ellen, and The Daily Show With Jon Stewart. And rather than try to stop the news anchor from shining as a story-teller on those shows, NBC cherished Brian’s ability to charm a younger audience both in and out of the newsroom.

However, although upper management loved the extra publicity, his colleagues were worried about what they saw as Brian’s increasing propensity to embellish the news.

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“Brian was a hell of a journalist,” emphasized a former NBC producer.

“But Brian was always pressured by management to be more approachable, show that raconteur side of himself.”

As a result, Williams learned to charm the audiences on talk shows with larger-than-life tales.

“When you go on Letterman or Stewart, there are different rules. They are looking for good stories, and Brian knows how to tell good stories.”

But that ability to turn a story from his reporting experience into a great tale may have proved his downfall.

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As the Inquisitr reported, multiple sources have challenged Williams’ accounts of what really happened to him in Iraq and during Hurricane Katrina.

Prior to his suspension without pay, Williams offered his own statement.

“In the midst of a career spent covering and consuming news, it has become painfully apparent to me that I am presently too much a part of the news, due to my actions. As managing editor of NBC Nightly News, I have decided to take myself off of my daily broadcast for the next several days.”

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What lies ahead for Brian Williams after his suspension without pay ends? A morality clause in his contract may prove fatal, reported Yahoo TV.

The contract specifies that Williams can be dismissed if he is found to have offended “a significant portion of the community,” said the source.

He also can be dismissed if his actions resulted in “public disrepute, contempt, scandal, or ridicule,” added the insider.

At this point, however, NBC has only issued an official statement that Williams is suspended for six months without pay, reported USA Today.

NBC News President Deborah Turness sent a memo to staff that showed her recognition of the controversy.

“Certainly there will be those who disagree. But we believe this suspension is the appropriate and proportionate action.”

What do you think? Should Williams be fired or given a second chance? Post your comments below.

[Photo By Cindy Ord/Getty Images]