Latest news with #LeonHarris
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
NBC anchor's shock confession about viral clip that cost him his job
A former NBC anchor who went viral for a shaky news segment in November that forced him to resign has now admitted to being an alcoholic. Leon Harris, 63, addressed his struggles with the disease on Daryn Kagan's Call Me Friend podcast. The two hosted a show on CNN for years in the early 2000s. Visibly emotional, Harris told his old colleague he had a 'couple glasses of wine' before the 6pm show. Harris said he'd drank before going on air for years but that the practice had finally caught up with him after he entered his 60s. His fateful segment aired on NBC4 Washington on Thanksgiving 2024 and saw the award-winning anchor flub simple sentences. He told Kagan it was the result of 'drinking between shows' - and left him checking himself into rehab within days. 'There, I got the help that I wish I had gotten the first time around,' Harris said, referring to his DUI arrest in 2022 that forced him to undergo 'some intensive work on myself with some very tough professionals,' he told viewers at the time. This time, though, NBC Washington was more stern - issuing a statement saying Harris would be 'stepping away from the anchor desk' indefinitely to focus on his health the following Monday. Harris told Kagan how despite not being back to the set, he hasn't 'thought about having a drink since December 14'. After 'some medications' and the rebab stint, he's said he's well on the road to recovery. Harris has long been married to DC nurse Dawn Harris, and hinted at the incident impacting him 'domestically' but did not comment further on whether it ruined his marriage. The couple share two adult children. He also revealed he was forcibly pulled off the air mid-show. Scroll down for video: 'I can't drink anymore,' he told Kagan, speaking candidly on his struggles with alcoholism and losing self-awareness. 'And I didn't realize it. 'That's one of the bad problems about the way my alcoholism has jumped up and bit me in the a**. 'All the time I've been drinking - all my my drinking life - I knew where that line was. I knew when enough was enough. I knew when I felt I was too buzzed to work or too buzzed to drive or too buzzed to do anything. 'I lost that ability and didn't know it.' 'I ended up drinking in between shows and I went on the air and I was more affected than I thought I was even at the time I felt like I was perfectly fine,' he revealed. 'And I ended up getting pulled off the air.' The abrupt admission left his former CNN Live Today costar grimacing, as if she felt too felt her friend's embarrassment. A producer put him in an Uber home, he revealed - adding how even before clips caught winds on the internet, viewers were calling. 'They were thinking that I was having a stroke,' he continued, recalling the concerns. 'It was the most embarrassing thing that has ever, ever happened to me. 'I'll never be able to live down or get away from it. 'I have not been on the air at uh at my station at NBC4 in Washington ever since that moment,' he said. 'When anything hits the internet it never dies and it just took on a life of its own. 'And, as a result, I kind of knew it was coming, but the station just felt like it was too much of a negative event and it was too well publicized that they didn't feel comfortable in bringing me back. 'Even though I left and went immediately into rehab in a place in Cherry Hill, New Jersey called Recovery Village,' he added. 'And there I got the help that I [needed]. 'It flipped the perfect switch for me in my head,' Harris continued. He did not provide any plans to return to broadcasting, he was arrested for drunk driving and trying the flee the scene of the subsequent crash in January 2022, following another DUI arrest in 2013 'So, that part of it has been great. 'I have no problems admitting that I'm seeing a psychiatrist [and] going to AA meetings multiple times a week.' Harris did not yet detail any plans to return to broadcasting, as he continues to focus on his health. He was arrested for drunk driving and trying the flee the scene of the subsequent crash in January 2022, after which he failed a field sobriety test and recorded a .08% BAC - twice the legal limit. In 2013, Harris was arrested after admitting to driving while impaired by alcohol. He was given probation before judgement in that incident. That same year, while working ABC News affiliate in Washington, D.C., he was admitted to an intensive care unit for two weeks after experiencing excruciating abdominal pain caused by a bout with pancreatitis. It saw Harris airlifted to hospital in Baltimore, where he was diagnosed. He expressed confusion to doctors and the press at the time at what brought on the condition. Chronic alcohol consumption constitutes 17 percent to 25 percent of acute pancreatitis cases worldwide, according to the National Institutes of Health. He started work as journalist in 1983 at CNN in Atlanta where he worked in numerous positions for 30 years, before moving to ABC-7 Washington, D.C. affiliate WJLA-TV in 2003. He started at NBC4 in 2017.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ex-NBC anchor Leon Harris breaks silence on concerning segment that led to him being ‘pulled off air'
Former NBC anchor Leon Harris has broken his silence months after worrying viewers during an evening broadcast. Harris, who worked for NBC4 Washington doing the network's nightly broadcast at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., sparked concern among viewers after he appeared to stumble over his words during the November 28 evening telecast. He was seen struggling to speak fluently in clips posted to social media. It was later announced that Harris, 63, would be stepping back from his role to focus on his health. Now, he's told former CNN co-anchor Daryn Kagan about the 'couple glasses of wine' he had that night. Speaking to Kagan on her Call Me Friend podcast, Harris revealed his struggle with alcoholism and how he wound up going to rehab after the November incident. 'I ended up drinking between shows, and I went on the air,' Harris said of the incident that led to him being 'pulled off air.' 'I was more affected than I thought I was. Even at the time, I felt like I was perfectly fine. 'People were calling. They were thinking that I was having a stroke,' he continued. 'It was the most embarrassing thing that has ever, ever happened to me. 'I'll never be able to live down or get away from it.' Viewers were concerned by Harris's appearance as he struggled through the segment on a water main break that occurred in the D.C. area, as well as the recent arrest of four suspects accused of vandalizing the American Israel Public Affairs Committee building. 'NBC check on Leon Harris!' voice actor Lee Sanders viewer wrote alongside a video shared on X. Another concerned viewer commented: 'What's going on Newschannel 4 6 PM news cast. The anchor is having a rough time delivering the news. I hope he is okay?' Harris, who joined NBC4 in 2017 after 21 years anchoring CNN in Atlanta, revealed that his boss forced him to Uber home from the news station that night. Speaking to Kagan and reflecting on 'the status and the responsibilities' of working in the media, Harris acknowledged that the pressures of the role may have contributed to his decision to drink. He also said his 'body has changed and I can't drink anymore. And I didn't realize it.' Shortly after the November incident, the network released a statement acknowledging Harris would be taking time away. Harris had previously been removed from NBC4 anchoring duties in 2022 after he was arrested and sentenced to 10 days in jail for crashing while driving under the influence of alcohol, but was later reinstated. This time, his departure was made permanent. Following a four-month leave of absence from his role, Harris announced April 8 that he was leaving the network. 'After 40+ years of nonstop work and the dramatic changes in the news and television industry, I've made the difficult decision to step away from my role at NBC4,' he said in a statement. 'I'm grateful to NBC4 for having me as part of their team for the last eight years.' 'This is the right time to prioritize my health and family,' he added.
New York Post
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Local NBC anchor Leon Harris who went viral for shaky news segment before resignation admits months later he was boozed up
The award-winning DC-based anchor who went viral on Thanksgiving for a cringeworthy news segment finally revealed this week he was boozed up on air – and didn't even realize how shaky he was. Now-former NBC4 Washington journalist Leon Harris addressed the uncomfortable moment in which he struggled mightily while delivering the news, including stumbling over words and awkward hesitations. He said he had a couple of glasses of wine with dinner within four hours between shows, but that was enough to push him off kilter. 4 Former NBC4 Washington journalist Leon Harris addressed the uncomfortable moment in which he struggled mightily while delivering the news. 'I ended drinking in between shows and then went on the air and I was more affected than I thought I was, even at the time I felt I was perfectly fine,' he told former CNN co-anchor Daryn Kagan in her new YouTube show, 'Call Me Friend.' 'I ended up getting pulled off the air. People were calling, they were thinking that I was having a stroke. It was the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to me.' 'My body has changed and I can't drink anymore,' added Harris, who had faced past drinking problems. 'And I didn't realize it.' Harris said his boss had to come into the station on the Thanksgiving holiday and instructed him to get in an Uber to go home. He took a leave of absence following the broadcast — a video of which quickly spread across social media — and last month jointly announced with NBC4 Washington that he was leaving the station for good. 'I kind of knew it was coming, but the station just felt it was too much of a negative event, it was too well-publicized that they didn't feel comfortable in bringing me back,' Harris told Kagan. 'Even though I left, I went immediately into rehab.' 4 Harris said he had a couple of glasses of wine with dinner within four hours between shows, but that was enough to push him off kilter. NBC 4 Washington When he announced his permanent departure, he said it was a 'difficult decision' but that he had to focus on his health after 40 years of non-stop work. At the time, he didn't provide more details. Harris previously worked at CNN with Kagan, the interviewer, and other local DC stations. The talented broadcaster covered a myriad of historic news events, including the Oklahoma City bombing, the OJ Simpson trial and the 9/11 terror attacks. He also won numerous local Emmy awards. 4 Harris said his boss had to come into the station on the Thanksgiving holiday and instructed him to get in an Uber to go home. NBC 4 Washington The journalist said it was gut-wrenching when he first viewed viral footage of his 'career-altering' screw-up. 'It was like 'oh my god,' I had no idea that I was that far gone,' he said. 'And it was clear and it was obvious.' Harris previously spoke about his struggle with alcohol in March 2022 after he ran into trouble for crashing into another car while driving under the influence. 'I've had a battle with alcoholism,' he said this week. 'I did not really fully appreciate that.' 4 When he announced his permanent departure, he said it was a 'difficult decision' but that he had to focus on his health after 40 years of non-stop work. At the time, he didn't provide more details. NBC 4 Washington The broadcast journalist said he still gets phone calls from concerned friends who only recently saw the shocking video, but he reassured them he's in better shape now. He said he hasn't thought of having a drink since Dec. 14, 2024, after getting crucial help, but might always be reminded of the difficult moment. 'And knowing that it's on the internet and still alive is something that I'll never be able to live down,' Harris said.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
NBC4 Washington anchor Leon Harris leaving station months after shaky broadcast
Local news anchor Leon Harris is leaving NBC4 Washington for good, more than four months after he initially stepped away from the station in the aftermath of a broadcast in which he struggled mightily. The longtime journalist called the departure Tuesday a 'difficult decision' he made with his 'health and family' in mind after he became a headline for all the wrong reasons over a shaky Thanksgiving day segment. 'Many of you have kindly asked about me over the past few months,' he said in a statement on NBC Washington's website. 'As you know, I took time off to focus on my health and family. After 40+ years of nonstop work and the dramatic changes in the news and television industry, I've made the difficult decision to step away from my role at NBC4.' Harris, 63, was with the local station for eight years. He previously worked for 21 years on CNN's morning programs and another 14 years at WJLA, according to his station bio. He covered major news events including the Oklahoma City bombing, the OJ Simpson trial and the 9/11 terror attacks. 'We are grateful for Leon's eight years of service to our newsroom,' NBC4 Washington said in a statement Tuesday. 'We thank him for his commitment to our community, dedication to journalism, hard work, and friendship. He will be missed, and we wish him nothing but the best.' Harris, who has dealt with alcohol abuse and health problems in the past, faced uncomfortable questions about the Thanksgiving news segment in which he hesitated at times and stumbled over words on air. The station said back then he was taking time off to focus on unspecified health issues. Harris previously spoke about his battle with alcohol in March 2022 after he ran into trouble for crashing into another car while driving under the influence. He also faced a major health scare in 2013 when he was diagnosed with necrotizing pancreatitis and almost died. 'My pancreas basically decided to start dying and taking my kidneys, my lungs and other internal organs along with it,' he told CNN more than a month after the scary medical episode. More information about Harris's exit from the NBC affiliate was not revealed Tuesday. 'This is the right time to prioritize my health and family,' he said in his Tuesday statement. 'A special thanks to my amazing colleagues, friends, and especially to our viewers who welcomed me into their homes. It's been an honor. Thank you.'
Express Tribune
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Leon Harris leaves NBC4 Washington after on-air incident
Leon Harris, a longtime news anchor with a four-decade career, is officially leaving NBC4 Washington more than four months after a Thanksgiving broadcast in which he appeared to struggle on air. The 63-year-old journalist called the move a 'difficult decision' made with his 'health and family' in mind. In announcing his departure on NBC Washington's website Tuesday, Harris said, 'After 40+ years of nonstop work and the dramatic changes in the news and television industry, I've made the difficult decision to step away from my role at NBC4.' He also thanked viewers for their concern over recent months, adding, 'It's been an honor. Thank you.' Harris had been with NBC4 Washington for eight years. Before that, he spent 21 years at CNN, where he covered landmark stories such as the Oklahoma City bombing, the O.J. Simpson trial, and the 9/11 attacks. He also worked 14 years at WJLA, another Washington-area station. NBC4 Washington released a statement expressing appreciation for his time at the network: 'We thank him for his commitment to our community, dedication to journalism, hard work, and friendship. He will be missed.' The Thanksgiving broadcast, which raised questions about his on-air performance, came amid a broader history of personal health struggles. Harris has previously spoken publicly about battling alcohol abuse and was arrested for a DUI in 2022. In 2013, he suffered a life-threatening bout of necrotizing pancreatitis, which he later described as nearly fatal. While no further details were shared about his departure, Harris emphasized that now is the right time to prioritize his well-being and loved ones. He also extended thanks to his colleagues, friends, and loyal viewers for their ongoing support.
