Months after a terrifying on-air incident led to him having to go away the set mid-broadcast, NBC 4 Information Washington anchor Leon Harris introduced that he could be stepping away from the information desk to prioritize his well being. Whereas the main points of what triggered the incident weren’t revealed on the time, involved followers despatched ideas and prayers to the beloved journalist. Now, the anchor has come again to share the story of what actually went down.
Harris not too long ago spoke with Daryn Kagan on her “Name Me Pal” podcast, and the 2 talked about what really occurred on the information that night time. The veteran journalist stated his on-air occasion was the results of a observe he’d engaged in all through his profession – having wine with dinner.
“I did what I had achieved prior to now for in all probability 20 years,” he stated within the interview. “I had 4 hours in between reveals so I went and had dinner and had a few glasses of wine.”
However Harris, who has been open about his ongoing struggles with alcohol use and DUI arrests in 2013 and 2022, instructed Kagan that he had no concept how the wine he had on that Thanksgiving night time in 2024 would have an effect on him.
“My physique has modified, and I can’t drink anymore, and I didn’t understand it,” he stated. “All my consuming life, I knew the place that line was when sufficient was sufficient. I misplaced that capacity and didn’t comprehend it.”
The Root reported on the 2024 incident, by which the 63-year-old slurred sure phrases and appeared to wrestle to pronounce others earlier than he was faraway from the desk throughout a break.
Longtime followers of Harris are thanking him for sharing his story with Kagan and consider it is going to encourage others.
“That is such a phenomenal section. Thanks Daryn for sharing this, and thanks Leon for sharing your story. Your honesty will heal so many individuals and provides them the braveness to push via their darkish night time of the soul. All of us undergo issues… and I’m so happy with these courageous souls who’re keen to share them so the remainder of the world can be taught and heal, too,” wrote somebody within the feedback.