Practically six months after Leon Harris went viral for stumbling via a dwell Thanksgiving Day broadcast on NBC4 Washington, the previous information anchor is revealing what led to his regarding on-air flub.
He appeared on the Wednesday, Could 14, episode of Daryn Kagan’s Name Me Buddy podcast and opened up about his struggles with alcoholism. Harris mentioned he had a “couple glasses of wine” earlier than the Thanksgiving broadcast.
“I used to be extra affected than I believed I used to be. Even on the time, I felt like I used to be completely superb,” he defined, including that he had alcohol points up to now, which made it in order that he couldn’t drink the identical means he used to.
Even earlier than clips of Harris went viral on social media, viewers had been calling in and expressing their issues, he revealed. “They had been pondering that I used to be having a stroke,” he continued. “It was essentially the most embarrassing factor that has ever, ever occurred to me.” Finally, the community pulled him off the air mid-show.
Harris mentioned he ended up going to rehab to get assist for his “battle with alcoholism,” which he mentioned affected him each professionally and “domestically,” though he didn’t increase on his private life with spouse Daybreak Harris and their two grownup youngsters. The journalist was beforehand arrested for DUI in 2013 and 2022.
4 days after the Thanksgiving incident, News4 introduced that Harris was “stepping away from the anchor desk to give attention to well being points.” He took a four-month depart of absence earlier than stepping down from his place completely in April.
“After 40+ years of nonstop work and the dramatic modifications within the information and tv trade, I’ve made the troublesome resolution to step away from my function at NBC4. I’m grateful to NBC4 for having me as a part of their workforce for the final eight years,” he mentioned on the time. “That is the precise time to prioritize my well being and household. A particular due to my wonderful colleagues, pals, and particularly to our viewers who welcomed me into their houses. It’s been an honor. Thanks.”
The station added their very own assertion on Instagram: “We’re grateful for Leon’s eight years of service to our newsroom. We thank him for his dedication to our neighborhood, dedication to journalism, laborious work, and friendship. He will probably be missed, and we want him nothing however the perfect.”