{"id":7908,"date":"2025-04-13T10:34:02","date_gmt":"2025-04-13T10:34:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xstorynews.com\/?p=7908"},"modified":"2025-04-13T10:34:02","modified_gmt":"2025-04-13T10:34:02","slug":"%f0%9f%98%a2-nbc-anchor-exits-after-recent-health-issues-more-in-comments-%e2%ac%87%ef%b8%8f","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xstorynews.com\/?p=7908","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\ude22 NBC Anchor Exits After Recent \u201cHealth Issues\u201d More in Comments \u2b07\ufe0f"},"content":{"rendered":"

Veteran news anchor Leon Harris announced his departure from NBC4 Washington on Tuesday, several months after concerning viewers during a Thanksgiving broadcast that left him appearing \u201cunwell,\u201d according to a statement posted on the station\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In his farewell message, the 63-year-old journalist, who had been with NBC4 since 2017, explained, \u201cMany of you have kindly asked about me over the past few months. As you know, I took time off to focus on my health and family.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harris cited his \u201c40+ years of nonstop work\u201d and \u201cdramatic changes in the news and television industry\u201d as factors in his \u201cdifficult decision to step away\u201d from the anchor desk. \u201cThis is the right time to prioritize my health and family,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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The announcement comes after Harris initially took leave in December \u201cto focus on health issues\u201d following a Nov. 28 segment that prompted an outpouring of viewer worry. While covering a vandalism story, Harris appeared to struggle<\/a> reading the teleprompter, slurring words and stumbling over sentences.<\/p>\n

Meteorologist Ryan Miller attempted to reassure audiences that evening, stating on-air, \u201cWe want to assure you that our colleague Leon Harris is fine.\u201d The incident occurred just over a month after Harris returned from a September leave to recover from broken foot surgery.<\/p>\n

NBC4 praised Harris\u2019 contributions in their own statement Tuesday. \u201cWe are grateful for Leon\u2019s eight years of service to our newsroom. 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harris, an Akron, Ohio native, has faced previous health challenges during his long career in the D.C. market, which began at ABC affiliate WJLA in 2003. In 2013, he battled life-threatening necrotizing pancreatitis, which he speculated could have stemmed from a \u201cperfect storm\u201d of family history, supplements, and alcohol use, per a Washington Post<\/em><\/a> interview.<\/p>\n

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