NBC announces anchor Leon Harris will be ‘stepping away’ after worrying live broadcast
NBC4 Washington anchor Leon Harris is “stepping away” from the news desk after raising concerns about his health during a broadcast last week.
Harris, 63, struggled to get through his scheduled news segment Thursday night, missing the ends of sentences and remaining slurred throughout the 6 p.m. show.
On Monday, the network finally addressed his actions and advised that he will be off the air until further notice.
‘Last week Leon appeared unwell while presenting News4 at six o’clock. Leon will step away from the anchor desk to focus on health issues,” NBC4 posted online.
“We here at NBC4 – and you at home – care deeply about Leon and wish him the best.”
The veteran host sparked a wave of concern after he stumbled over words while reading the teleprompter during the show’s first segment. He also chuckled to himself between mishaps.
He was promptly taken off air as his condition appeared to be worsening.
NBC4 played a feature segment and meteorologist Ryan Miller closed the show with an extended weather forecast, ultimately allaying viewers’ concerns.
“We want to assure you that our colleague Leon Harris is doing well,” he said.
NBC4’s statement on Monday marks the first time they have addressed his actions since then. DailyMail.com has contacted NBC4 for additional comment.
Viewers feared for the health of NBC4 anchor Leon Harris after the network struggled to get through a news segment Thursday night before being taken off the air
Harris, a former journalist in the Washington DC area, was taken off the air after his disturbing broadcast, but a weatherman later said he was fine
Harris’ fans rushed to the network’s update to express their support and hope for his recovery.
“I’ve been watching Leon Harris since Leon was on CNN, and I hope Leon Harris gets better soon,” one person wrote.
“I hope for a full and speedy recovery, however long it takes,” said another.
‘Good. Sending nothing but love, thoughts and prayers to Mr. Harris. Whatever’s going on, kick his ass and come back stronger than before, brother!’ someone agreed.
It’s unclear what Harris’ exact health issues are, but he recently revealed that he was recovering from foot surgery. He said he slipped down the stairs of his home and broke his foot in five places.
“Whatever you do, don’t run up and down the stairs in socks,” Harris warned.
The award-winning broadcaster spent 21 years at CNN before moving to DC in 2003
Harris has previously addressed his battle with alcoholism, with some viewers pointing to his past substance abuse habits to explain Thursday night’s episode.
In January 2022, he was arrested again for drunken driving in Montgomery County after crashing into another car while driving with twice the legal alcohol limit. He tried to flee after hitting the other car from behind.
He spent ten days in jail and was taken off the air for a month during an investigation. Harris received a one-year suspended prison sentence.
Harris was open and honest about his misdeeds during his return to the airwaves.
“Many of you know that one evening in January I made a terrible mistake,” he said as he opened the broadcast.
‘After drinking, I decided to get in my car and drive. This is the worst decision I could have ever made.”
He also claimed he “embraced sobriety” after the unflattering incident.
About a decade ago, the well-known host was arrested for drunken driving in Montgomery County, Maryland and faced a six-month suspended prison sentence.
Harris (right) married his college sweetheart Dawn Lomax (second from left) with whom he shares two children, Darren (left) and Lauren (second from right)
In September, Harris revealed to viewers in a video that he was back off the air after breaking his foot in five places and requiring surgery.
Prior to these incidents, he pleaded guilty to drunken driving in DeKalb County, Georgia and was placed on pre-sentence probation in 2003, according to court records.
Harris has previously endured other health issues that had nothing to do with drinking habits.
In 2013, Harris suffered a health crisis that left him in intensive care for two weeks and left with half his pancreas.
At age 52, he was flown from his home to a hospital in Baltimore, where he was diagnosed with acute necrotizing pancreatitis.
His condition was life-threatening because his pancreas was inflamed and the organ was dying. His kidneys began to fail and his lungs began to fill with fluid.
The Baltimore hospital’s chief trauma officer described Harris’ CT scan as “looking like a bomb had gone off… where the pancreas is.”
While on a ventilator, his heart stopped twice and he was technically dead. But then the pancreatitis disappeared and after five weeks Harris was back on the air.
Harris has been open about his past struggles with addition and was arrested for drunk driving in 2013 and 2022
Harris worked at CNN in Atlanta for 21 years. He moved to Washington DC in 2003 and worked at WJLA-TV for 14 years before joining NBC4, where he anchored evening news segments and became a household name in DC.
“Leon Harris is one of the OGs of the DC local TV business,” one person wrote in response to Harris’ health scare on Thursday. “I hope he’s doing well.”
Harris is a two-time recipient of the National Cable Ace Award for Best Anchor and has won a dozen Local Emmys for his reporting and anchoring over the years.
He is married to college sweetheart Dawn Lomax from Ohio University, with whom he shares two children, Darren and Lauren. Dawn is a nurse at a hospital in Maryland.