Brian Williams’ ‘Edible’ Zinger Latest in Line of Anti-Vax, Anti-Mask Taunts

Brian Williams drew attention on social media Wednesday for a particularly wry comment he made during a segment on his MSNBC show. Following a montage of people ranting about mask mandates on a Tuesday edition of his program The 11th Hour, Williams deadpanned: “Perhaps you remember your first edible.”

The moment was just the most recent instance of the newsman injecting humor into a touchy subject. Since the start of the pandemic, Williams has offered quips and sardonic takes on people against the vaccines and masks, as well as diffusing conspiracy theories with his tongue-in-cheek comments.

His “edible” remark, a reference to cannabis-infused food, was made right after showing a fiery speech by an anti-masker during a public meeting. The clip has been shared widely on social media, resulting in Williams trending high on Twitter.

In February, Williams delivered multiple zingers during a segment on Senator Ron Johnson claiming “leftist provocateurs” dressed as Trump supporters and instigated the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Williams opened the segment by referring to the Wisconsin Republican as “RonAnon Johnson” and said he was “the rare conspiracy theorist who is a regular on Meet the Press.”

After showing clips of Johnson making his claims, Williams said, “We paid extra to have those translated from the original Russian.”

Last November, the anchor went after not just Geraldo Rivera but then-President Donald Trump after Rivera floated the idea of naming the recently announced COVID-19 vaccine after Trump.

During an appearance on Fox & Friends, Rivera said naming the vaccine after Trump would be “a nice gesture to him.”

“‘Have you got your Trump yet?’ ‘I got my Trump, I’m fine,’” Rivera said. “I wish we could honor him in that way.”

“What Trump Steaks did for the hungry, what Trump Water did for the thirsty in our nation, what Trump University did to lift up the uneducated in our country, well along comes Trump: The Vaccine,” Williams continued. “Possibilities, I think you’ll agree, are endless.”

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