A news anchor in upstate New York was suspended after she was “slurry” in her speech and sometimes incoherent during a newscast Saturday night.
Albany anchor Heather Kovar seemed confused and looked disheveled during an evening broadcast, according to the New York Post, at certain points, stumbling over her words and at other times failing to pivot between segments.
She said, for example, “And so, moving on tonight, is we have to tell you also, you know, like other news that’s happening in the area, and across the area, in the nation.”
Kovar also had technical issues during the broadcast.
She was suspended but posted on social media later Saturday hat she’d be back on air Sunday.
However, she was in fact replaced Sunday by Emma Quin, another employee at WRGB.
Kovar had taken time off in May to spend time with her dying father and had recently returned from leave.
Although some viewers mocked her weekend appearance, others were concerned that her behaviour suggested a medical issue.
On Monday, Kovar issued a statement saying the issue with the slurred speech was exhaustion in the face of her father’s death.
She told the Times Union she had, “returned early from family leave following my dad’s death. On Friday, I notified the station I would not be renewing my contract which expires July 31.
“Saturday I was scheduled to work the early morning 6 a.m. shift and the evening shift. I was sleep-deprived and exhausted.”
Kovar was with CBS6/WRGB for six years and prior to that was at WTEN/News10ABC.
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