Former ABC News anchor Kendis Gibson says a toxic work culture led to suicide attempts

Ex World news now anchor Kendis Gibson claims a toxic work environment at ABC News contributed to his 2018 suicide attempt.

As reported Page six, In his new memoir, Gibson talks about his time at the news station: Five trips: an investigative journey into mental health, psychedelic healing and saving lives, where he reveals how he experimented with illegal drugs to help combat his mental problems.

The Belize-born journalist joined ABC News in 2014 as a correspondent and said he initially received a “warm welcome” from Good morning America heavenly hosts, Robin Roberts, Michael StrahanAND George Stephanopoulos. Speaking about welcoming Roberts on air, Gibson said it was “officially anointed by the queen of the show” for him.

However, Gibson said that off-air, an anonymous black correspondent warned him, “Welcome to Mickey’s Plantation.” When Gibson asked the person to describe the details, he claims he was told, “You’ll find out.”

“The impression I got from them was that it was a reference to veiled racism and there was some truth behind it,” Gibson said Page six.

Gibson started at the network’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., then moved to Los Angeles and later to New York, where he eventually took over as anchor World news now With TJ Holmes. But this was the gig where the mental toll started to show.

“I had nineteen co-hosts during my time there,” Gibson said, referring to the revolving door of on-air talent World news now. “There was already an underlying depression,” he said, but noted how his time on the show exacerbated his problems.

Despite requests to leave his desk, Gibson claimed that his superiors ignored his requests. He then began to rely on the product Ambien to deal with his insomnia and anxiety, “trying to get the best results possible… while performing at night (and) during the day. It was just a lot and the network didn’t listen to me at all.

He also alleged racism, recalling the time his boss called him and reprimanded him for wearing jeans on air. “You’re on TV news now, not at a rap concert. Don’t ever wear jeans again,” Gibson claimed the now-fired executive told him.

“I was so naive… I had rose-colored glasses. I didn’t think there was racism going on. I haven’t seen all the indications,” he added.

Gibson also believes the same executive did him a disservice after he helped lead a diversity task force that sought to encourage the hiring of more black employees in senior positions. He confirmed his performances GMA dropped from 212 in the first two years to eight after the task force was formed.

On October 12, 2018, Gibson attempted to take his own life. He told how he drank two Ambiens and two glasses of Chardonnay and cried in his sleep. When he woke up a few hours later, he texted his then-partner goodbye and prepared to jump out of the kitchen window. However, the drugs in his system caused him to fall back to the kitchen floor instead.

He woke up in bed with his best friend, Mike Woods, watching over him. Woods and others, including World news nowDiane Macedo also organized her intervention. Gibson returned to his desk just hours after his suicide attempt. He also started seeing a therapist, who prescribed him medication for depression and anxiety.

Gibson later left ABC News and landed at MSNBC, but his problems continued and he began dabbling in psychedelics to help his mental health issues.

“I started writing a book about my depression, and one thing led to another, and eventually it turned into how different psychedelics helped me,” he said. “I’m not encouraging anyone to take psychedelics, but I hope it opens up a discussion and encourages people to look for alternatives.”

Gibson returned to television news earlier this year as a presenter on PIX11 News in New York.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or dial 988. If you or a loved one is in immediate danger, call 911.