Upstate New York News Anchor Explains Bizarre Broadcast

An Upstate New York news anchor who recently gained national attention due to concerning behavior during a weekend newscast has released a statement to explain her bizarre conduct.

CBS 6 Albany’s Heather Kovar, a five-year station veteran, was suspended from the TV news station after live footage of a Saturday evening broadcast that showed her slurring, making incoherent statements, and calling the meteorologist by the wrong name went viral on social media.

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Viewers took to Twitter and Facebook to comment during the concerning on-air moment (some comments nicer than others), leading to a slew of negative attention towards the anchor and the station.

CBS 6 Albany releases a statement

A statement released the following day by WRGB station vice president  and general manager Robert Croteau, said:

“Heather Kovar has been suspended pending our internal investigation. We have no further comment at this time.” 

Kovar blames behavior on sleep deprivation and exhaustion

On Sunday night, Kovar released a statement to the Albany Times Union, to explain her behavior during the worrisome news broadcast. Kovar says she

"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 had previously opened up on social media about taking a leave of absence from the TV station to spend time with her father while he was in hospice. Her father has since sadly passed away.