A former ABC News anchor says a toxic work environment and racism led to her suicide attempt

A former ABC News anchor says years of working in a toxic work environment and persistent racist rhetoric from his superiors led him to attempt suicide.

In his new memoir, former “World News Now” anchor Kendis Gibson claims he was subjected to one of the most grueling office sessions, was repeatedly turned down or passed on offers and faced racism from an executive.

Gibson said Page six “attempted to perform at the highest level… during the night performance (and) during the day.”

Although he repeatedly asked to be moved from his desk, citing the negative impact it was having on his mental health, Gibson maintains his requests were ignored, even as 19 co-hosts circulated the studio.

“It was just a lot and the network didn’t listen to me at all,” he said.

But things took a turn for the worse when the principal started making racist comments towards Gibson.

In one instance, Gibson said he wore jeans on air. Shortly thereafter, he says, the executive called him and said, “You’re on the TV news right now and you’re not attending the rap concert. Never wear jeans again.

He also alleges that the same executive later said it was worth less than toilet paper.

However, the problems did not end there, he said.

Gibson helped spearhead a “Diversity Task Force” in hopes that more black employees would be hired for senior positions.

Gibson claims his involvement sparked retaliation.

In the two years before the task force was formed, Gibson said he appeared on “Good Morning America” 212 times. However, after the task force’s first meeting with management, his appearance count dropped to just eight in the two years following that meeting.

Problems continued and executives passed on exclusive Gibson offers such as behind-the-scenes access with Formula One’s Lewis Hamilton and Colombian superstar Maluma.

“I was so naive,” Gibson said. “I had rose-colored glasses. I didn’t think there was racism going on. I didn’t see all the signs.”

Gibson admits he struggled with depression before joining World News Now, but says the situations he encountered online exacerbated those struggles.

In October 2018, Gibson returned home from hosting a late-night show and drank two Ambiens with two glasses of wine. When he woke up a few hours later, he sent his then-partner a goodbye text and prepared to jump out of the kitchen window.

He said he would have been successful if drugs and alcohol hadn’t kicked in and knocked him to the floor. Later, a friend showed up and helped him back to bed.

Just a few hours later, Gibson returned to work.

When Gibson’s contract with ABC was coming to an end, he said he was offered a one-year extension and a $10,000 pay raise. He rejected this offer.

That kind of money, he said, is “networking waste” and he “doesn’t think it’s worth sacrificing another year of time and health to work such a difficult schedule.”

Gibson continued working at MSNBC and today is the anchor of New York’s PIX11 News.

“I’m in a different space. “This is the first time I’ve been anywhere where I’m not looking for another job and I feel comfortable in my skin,” he told Page Six.

ABC did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment.

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