NBC News controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
Back to profile8 entries
2020
NBC News faces criticism for promoting Soleimani burial coverage
Public backlash
NBC News faced criticism after promoting live coverage of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani's burial on social media. The promotion drew public backlash, with critics questioning the network's decision to highlight the event. The incident became a subject of media commentary, focusing on the network's social media promotion of the burial coverage.
Source excerpt
Critics slammed the network for promoting the terrorist mastermind's burial on social media.
NBC News is taking heat this week for promoting "live coverage" of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani's burial.
2020
SmileDirectClub sues NBC Universal over coverage
Lawsuit filed
SmileDirectClub filed a lawsuit seeking approximately $2.8 billion from NBC Universal, alleging that reports about its teeth-straightening products contained defamatory statements. NBC News said it stood by its reporting and considered the claim meritless.
Company response
Denial — NBC News
"We stand by our reporting and believe this is a meritless claim," NBC News told The Wall Street Journal.
Source excerpt
Teeth-straightening startup SmileDirectClub filed a lawsuit Monday against NBC Universal Media for approximately $2.8 billion over news reports it says were defamatory, as first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
"We stand by our reporting and believe this is a meritless claim," NBC News told The Wall Street Journal.
2020
NBC News apologizes for an inaccurately edited interview segment
Company response
NBC News apologized for a Meet the Press segment that cut part of an interview with Attorney General William Barr and left a false impression. The segment was described as inaccurately edited, and the apology addressed the impression created by the omission of part of the interview.
Company response
Apology — NBC News
NBC News is apologizing for a ‘Meet the Press’ segment that cut a portion of an interview with Attorney General William Barr that left a false impression.
Apology — NBC News
NBC has apologized for “inaccurately” cutting a portion of an interview with Attorney General William Barr that left a false impression with viewers of “Meet the Press.”
Source excerpt
May 12, 2020
NBC News is apologizing for a ‘Meet the Press’ segment that cut a portion of an interview with Attorney General William Barr that left a false impression.
NBC has apologized for “inaccurately” cutting a portion of an interview with Attorney General William Barr that left a false impression with viewers of “Meet the Press.”
2020
NBC faces backlash over Trump town hall decision
Public backlash
NBC News faced public backlash, including a social media call to boycott the network, after agreeing to host President Donald Trump for a town hall in direct competition with ABC’s event with Joe Biden.
Source excerpt
Our decision is motivated only by fairness, not business considerations
NBC News is sticking with its plan to air a live televised town hall with President Trump Thursday night, competing directly against ABC's event with Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
The hashtags #BoycottNBC and #NBCBlackout are trending on Twitter amid growing outrage from Hollywood and beyond.
2015
Brian Williams Iraq-war account
NBC suspended Brian Williams after inaccuracies were identified in his account of reporting during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He was removed from the Nightly News anchor role and later moved to MSNBC.
2015
Revision of Richard Engel kidnapping report
NBC revised its original explanation of the 2012 kidnapping of Richard Engel and his crew in Syria after later reporting indicated that a Sunni criminal group affiliated with the Free Syrian Army was more likely responsible than the group initially identified.
2012
George Zimmerman 911-call editing
NBC edited a segment from George Zimmerman’s 911 call in a way that altered the apparent context of his remarks about Trayvon Martin. The network apologized after criticism from media-watchdog and press organizations.
1993
General Motors truck-safety report
NBC acknowledged that its Dateline report on the safety of General Motors trucks used manipulated test conditions, including incendiaries attached to fuel tanks. GM sued NBC, and the parties settled on the day NBC admitted the problem.