A local TV channel suspended its news anchor after an unusual “train wreck” of a bulletin in which she appeared disheveled.
CBS6 Albany anchor Heather Kovar appeared on a live broadcast Saturday at 6 p.m., in which her speech was slurred and in which she appeared off script in a number of places.
Kovar has since said that the performance was a result of lack of sleep and exhaustion after she took time off due to her father’s death.
In one part of the bulletin, which was shared on Twitter by NBCUniversal CEO Mike Sington, Kovar begins by giving a disjointed description of the heat wave in the southern region of the US and ends at about the 50-second mark by saying that “this weekend , right here is so amazing”.
“More than 50 million people across the country, in the Southeast or under excessive heat warnings and boy, wouldn’t you know it, 105 degrees in Texas today.” I just talked to my mom about what she’s dealing with, it’s a big heat wave and she, it’s just hitting everywhere, we’re so happy, it’s only 80 degrees here. We are really lucky in the Capital Region.
“I mean, let me tell you about it, these areas are reaching areas like, I mean, it’s Houston, Austin, San Antonio. I mean they are not expected, it happened. We don’t need to tell you it’s bad, like people are told to stay inside and drink lots of water and we’re just lucky. This weekend, right here, is so amazing,” Kovar continues, until the super cuts her off.
At this point, Kovar mistakes meteorologist Craig Gold’s name as Craig Adams, another meteorologist.
“Meteorologist Craig Adams is right here, with here,” she can be heard saying as she super chimes in, adding: “I’m sorry Craig Adams, why did I say that?”
Kovar, at one point in the bulletin, said, “So going on tonight, we have to tell you as well, you know, like other news that’s happening in the area and in the area, in the nation.
“I told you this morning if you watch us this morning starting at 6 in the morning, 7 in the morning, I told you, you know what? Today, what a beautiful day outside! It’s just amazing. So, great weather for outdoor music.”
Kovar was then interrupted mid-sentence and did not return to the show.
The anchor later tweeted that she would be back on Sunday, but station vice president and general manager Robert Croteau said she had been suspended.
“Heather Kovar has been suspended pending our internal investigation. We have no further comment at this time,” he told the Times Union.
In response to a clip of the show shared on Twitter, viewers expressed shock and concern that there was no other host to take over the bulletin.
Some social media users came to her defense.
“Heather Kovar is not like that at all. Turn her down and let her sleep,” wrote one user.
In a statement to the Times Union later on Sunday, Kovar said she had “returned early from a family leave following the death of my father. On Friday, I notified the station that I would not be renewing my contract, which expires on July 31.
“On Saturday I had to work an early morning at 6am and an evening shift. I was sleep deprived and exhausted.”
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