Dustin Nolan Denies Viral KWQC Exit Was an On-Air Quit, Says Decision Came Months Earlier
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 23
Dustin Nolan Denies Viral KWQC Exit Was an On-Air Quit, Says Decision Came Months Earlier
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 23
Summary
Monday’s statement from Dustin Nolan said his viral KWQC TV6 farewell was miscast: he was not “quitting on-air,” was not fired, and had decided with his wife months earlier to leave both the station and the news industry.
Friday’s live signoff drew national attention after Nolan said viewers deserved more than “sanitized news,” but he said that line described his approach to journalism rather than an attack on KWQC or the profession.
Nolan said the station had posted his job months ago and that he could not yet discuss his next step, calling the departure a hard choice that would let him pursue a longtime dream.
The former anchor also rebuked outlets he said published the story without seeking context and criticized those that used his son’s name without permission.
Nolan, who joined the NBC affiliate in 2022 and won a 2025 Mid-America Emmy with his wife, ended by defending local journalism and thanking Quad Cities viewers for their support.