ABC’s “The View” co-host Rosie O’Donnell compared “NBC Nightly News” anchor Brian Williams’ recant of a 2003 Iraq story to the infamous lies of disgraced champion cyclist Lance Armstrong.
The panel discussed a recent apology from Williams who admitted Wednesday he was never on a helicopter that was forced down by rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) fire during the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003, TheWrap reported.
“I think he fabricated that story, and the apology seemed a little oddly circuitous,” O’Donnell said with a straight face. “It’s a blatant lie. It’s a Lance Armstrong lie.”
The Armstrong quip came a day after media reports say he allowed his girlfriend to take blame for a car crash in Colorado. In 2013, he sat down with Oprah Winfrey on OWN to explain why he relied on illegal methods — from banned drugs to blood transfusions — to win seven Tour de France titles, TheWrap previously reported.
Fellow co-hosts Nicolle Wallace, Rosie Perez and moderator Whoopi Goldberg appeared more forgiving of Williams’ story.
“No, no it’s not a Lance Armstrong lie. People forget themselves. They get all wrapped up in their story. What is the word?” Goldberg asked the panel.
“Lying,” O’Donnell said sternly. Wallace responded with “embellishing.”
“I have embellished stuff that I had to take back,” Goldberg admitted. “I get how it can happen. I’m not perfect, and I can make stuff up sometimes.”
Wallace reminded the panel of Williams’ admiration for the military.
“He’s personally obsessed with American military history. He does personally revere these men. He may wish he had witnessed something as harrowing as this,” she said.
At discussion’s end, Goldberg was clear about the repercussions Williams could face.
“If it happens again, he’ll be gone,” she said. “He’ll be gone.”
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