NBC Anchor on Leave ‘To Focus on Health’ After Struggle During Live Thanksgiving Broadcast

NBC4 Washington announced on Monday that anchor Leon Harris had taken temporary leave to focus on his health after he appeared to suffer an unknown issue during a live Thanksgiving news broadcast.

“We have an update to share with you about our colleague, Leon Harris,” announced NBC4 Washington in a statement. “Last week, Leon appeared unwell while anchoring News4 at 6. Leon will be stepping away from the anchor desk to focus on health issues.

The network concluded, “We here at NBC4 — and you at home — care deeply about Leon and wish him well. We thank you for your concern.”

NBC4 viewers expressed concern on Thanksgiving after Harris looked dishevelled and struggled to get through his broadcast, before being abruptly pulled from the network and replaced with an extended weather report.

The exact nature of Harris’s health issues is currently unknown.

In 2022, Harris was sentenced to one year in prison with a suspended sentence after he crashed his car under the influence of alcohol.

“I made a terrible decision to drink and drive. That is something I am grateful to have survived and something for which I will have to pay a debt to society,” he said at the time. “My alcoholism will not be the end of me, but my acknowledging it is going to be a new beginning for me.”

Watch above via NBC4 Washington.