NBC4 Washington anchor Leon Harris struggled to get through his words during the network’s Thanksgiving night broadcast – sparking concerns that he was having a medical episode or under the influence.
The 63-year-old broadcast journalist — who joined NBC4 in Washington, DC in 2017 after more than 20 years as an anchor at CNN — stumbled over his words and spoke incoherently during the evening news, as seen in a clip posted to X.
3 NBC4 news anchor Leon Harris struggled through the Thanksgiving broadcast on Thursday evening. Getty Images
Harris was reporting on a water main break near Washington, DC and the arrest of four individuals connected to the vandalization of an American Israel Public Affairs Committee building.
Viewers were quick to take to social media with their concerns that the news anchor was suffering a medical emergency. Some social media users even speculated that Harris — who served jail time in 2022 after driving under the influence, crashing into a car and attempting to flee the scene — was relapsing.
NBC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
After Harris’ shaky news delivery, the network cut to a weather segment during its 6 p.m. newscast, with no news from the anchor desk for at least 20 minutes, according to journalists posting on X during the live broadcast.
NBC4 meteorologist Ryan Miller told viewers that the network had received “a lot” of concern and calls from worried fans.
“We want to assure you that our colleague Leon Harris is fine,” Miller said.
3 The local NBC news anchor served jail time after he was arrested in 2022 for driving under the influence. NurPhoto via Getty Images
Lee Sanders, a podcaster and voice actor, called for NBC to “check on” Harris in a post on X.
“Check your guy! Pray he hasn’t relapsed again or dealing w/ addiction off of that foot injury,” Sanders wrote Thursday night. “Pull him & get him some help!”
Sanders said the newscast was cut short after 35 minutes, instead of the planned hour.
Chris Williamson, a sportscaster, called the Thanksgiving newscast “hard to watch” and said he hoped Harris was OK.
3 Leon Harris was removed from his anchor duties after his arrest and reinstated months later. The Washington Post via Getty Images
Harris served 10 days in jail in 2022 after he crashed into another car while driving under the influence and attempted to flee the scene of the crime. He was removed from his anchor duties at NBC4 after his arrest and reinstated months later.
In March 2022, he told NBC4 viewers that it was “the stupidest decision I could have possibly made” and that he was “deeply, deeply regretful and apologetic for that.”
During that broadcast, he said he was taking some time off to get some professional help.
His NBC4 colleague Doreen Gentzler later interviewed him in July 2022 about his arrest.
“Yeah, in my condition, I could’ve killed somebody,” Harris said. “I was actually more impaired than I thought I was.”
Gentzler told Harris that many viewers wondered why he tried to flee the scene after crashing into another driver.
“That was the alcohol and the disease,” Harris said. “All I could think about was getting home.”
The news anchor said he was doing “three hours of therapy” every morning during his time off to deal with his substance use issues.
NBC4 anchor Leon Harris sparks worries after stumbling through Thanksgiving broadcast
