A news anchor in Albany, New York, who was believed by many to be drunk during a live broadcast, explained the heartbreaking reason behind her behavior.
Heather Kovar, Emmy winner A reporter, she seemed disheveled and slurred as she anchored a double shift for CBS affiliate WRGB on Saturday. In a statement to NBC News and the Albany Times Union, Kovar said he was dealing with an enormous amount of stress.
“I recently returned early from family leave following the death of my father,” Kovar said in the statement. “On Friday, I notified the station that I would not be renewing my contract that expires on July 31. On Saturday he was scheduled to work the 6 am early shift and the evening shift. I was sleep deprived and exhausted.”
She also told People that “it’s been an exhausting time using my free time to fly the family between shifts.”
WRGB confirmed in a statement to NBC that Kovar informed the station that he would not be renewing his contract on Friday. But due to the on-air incident, “it has been decided that he will remain off the air for the remainder of his contract.”
Kovar told People that “the situation has been handled amicably with the station.”
Kovar appeared to be struggling during his 6 p.m. broadcast on Saturday. His hair looked messy, he had trouble reading his teleprompter script and, at one point, he even used the wrong name for one of his colleagues.
In other clips of his broadcast, Kovar began to explain the news of a shooting in Ohio by saying, “We have to tell you, too, you know, like the other news that’s happening in the area and around the area and the nation.” . A girl of four, let me tell you about this, a girl of 4 is really dead. Another man clings to life after shooting in Ohio.”
Kovar confirmed that he was working a double shift that day in a tweet early Saturday.
Kovar seems to want to put the whole incident behind him.
“I was hoping to create a better situation,” she told People. “I just hope people understand as I go into what’s next.”
