Ex-ABC news anchor Kendis Gibson says toxic work culture led to suicide attempts

Previous World news now anchor Kendis Gibson has claimed that a toxic work environment at ABC News contributed to his 2018 suicide attempt.

As reported by page six, Gibson opens up about his time at the news network in his new memoir, Five Tours: An Exploratory Journey into Mental Health, Psychedelic Healing and Saving a Life, where he reveals how he experimented with illegal drugs to help combat his mental health issues.

The Belizean-born journalist joined ABC News in 2014 as a correspondent and said he initially received a “warm welcome” from Good morning America hosts, Robin Roberts, Michael Strahan and George Stephanopoulos. Speaking of Roberts’ on-air welcome, Gibson said it was like his “official anointing as queen of the show.”

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

“The feeling I got from them was that it was related to veiled racism and there was some truth to what was behind it,” Gibson told Page six.

Gibson started at the network’s Washington, DC headquarters before moving to Los Angeles and later New York, where he eventually took over as anchor of World news now from TJ Holmes. But it was this concert where the mental strain began to show.

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

Despite his pleas to move from the desk, Gibson claimed his bosses ignored his requests. He then began to rely on Ambien to deal with insomnia and anxiety while he was “trying to perform at the top of his game … on an overnight show (and) during the day. It was just a lot and the network didn’t listen at all not to me.”

He also alleged racism and recalled a time when a boss called him to admonish him for wearing jeans on air. “‘You’re doing TV news now, not going to a rap concert. Never wear jeans again,'” Gibson said he was told by this now-fired boss.

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

Gibson also believes the same manager took it out on him after he co-chaired a Diversity Task Force to encourage the hiring of more black employees in senior positions. He claimed his performances further GMA dropped from 212 in his first two years to eight after he created the task force.

On October 12, 2018, Gibson attempted to take his own life. He revealed how he took two Ambien with two glasses of Chardonnay and cried himself to sleep. When he awoke hours later, he texted his then-partner goodbye and prepared to jump out of his kitchen window. But the drugs in his system sent him tumbling 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 staged an intervention. Gibson returned to the desk hours after his suicide attempt. He also began seeing a therapist, who prescribed him depression and anxiety medication.

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

“I set out to write a book about my depression and one thing led to another and it just evolved into how different psychedelics helped me,” he said. “I’m not pushing anyone into psychedelics, but hopefully it opens up a conversation and encourages people to explore alternatives.”

Gibson returned to television news earlier this year as anchor at PIX11 news in New York City.

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