As the New York Times reports, Rannazzisi has never been employed by Merrill Lynch, and on the day of the attacks he was actually working in midtown Manhattan.
Caught in a lie, Rannazzisi issued a statement through his publicist Matthew Labov. "I was not at the Trade Center on that day," the statement read. "I don't know why I said this. This was inexcusable. I am truly, truly sorry."
"For many years, more than anything," he continued, "I have wished that, with silence, I could somehow erase a story told by an immature young man. It only made me more ashamed. How could I tell my children to be honest when I hadn't come clean about this?"
The lie may now affect his role as a spokesman for Buffalo Wild Wings. "We are disappointed to learn of Steve's misrepresentations regarding the events of September 11, 2001," the company said in a statement. "We are currently re-evaluating our relationship with Steve pending a review of all the facts."
Steve Rannazzisi has also shared his statements on his Twitter. Read them below.
UPDATE (9/16, 12:45 p.m.): Comedy Central, who were planning to air Rannazzisi's new special Breaking Dad this weekend, have released a statement [via Deadline]. They said, "We just learned about this last night. We are very disappointed to hear about Steve's misrepresentations and are currently determining how we will move forward."
As a young man, I made a mistake that I deeply regret and for which apologies may still not be enough.
— Stephen Rannazzisi (@SteveRannazzisi) September 16, 2015After I moved with my wife to Los Angeles from New York City in 2001 shortly after 9/11, I told people that I was in one of the World Trade
— Stephen Rannazzisi (@SteveRannazzisi) September 16, 2015Center towers on 9/11. It wasn't true. I was in Manhattan but working in a building in midtown and I was not at the Trade Center on that day
— Stephen Rannazzisi (@SteveRannazzisi) September 16, 2015I don't know why I said this. This was inexcusable. I am truly, truly sorry. For many years, more than anything, I have wished that, with
— Stephen Rannazzisi (@SteveRannazzisi) September 16, 2015silence, I could somehow erase a story told by an immature young man.It only made me more ashamed. How could I tell my children to be honest
— Stephen Rannazzisi (@SteveRannazzisi) September 16, 2015when I hadn't come clean about this?
— Stephen Rannazzisi (@SteveRannazzisi) September 16, 2015it is to the victims of 9/11 and to the people that love them--and the people that love me--that I ask for forgiveness.
— Stephen Rannazzisi (@SteveRannazzisi) September 16, 2015It was profoundly disrespectful to those who perished and those who lost loved ones. The stupidity and guilt I have felt for many years has
— Stephen Rannazzisi (@SteveRannazzisi) September 16, 2015not abated. It was an early taste of having a public persona, and I made a terrible mistake.
— Stephen Rannazzisi (@SteveRannazzisi) September 16, 2015
