A clip of a local television anchor went viral over Thanksgiving when he seemed to struggle stringing words together. Now, Leon Harris is stepping away from his desk “to focus on health issues.“
“Last week, Leon appeared unwell while anchoring News4 at 6,” the network also said in a social media post. It added: “We here at NBC4 – and you at home – care deeply about Leon and wish him well.”
Prayers and concerns trickled in for the newscaster, but not before speculation went rampant. “Pull him & get him some help!” one X user wrote. Harris, 63, has openly discussed his issues with alcohol in the past – though making the connection this incident is related will only contribute to rumors.
Experts warn that while it’s certainly OK to wonder about the health of public figures – or anyone in your life – people should remember that everyone deserves respect amid a medical scare. A man like Harris, after all, is still human.
Because celebrities live their lives in the public eye, “some people can inappropriately believe they are entitled to every aspect of their life which is untrue,” Chase Cassine, licensed clinical social worker, previously told USA TODAY. “Celebrities and public figures are humans and deserve the fundamental human right of autonomy and self-determination by controlling what aspects of their lives will be self-disclosed.”
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‘Public figures need privacy’
Health scares are, for lack of a better word, scary. We’re not privy to what’s going on with Harris. We also don’t need to know.
“Public figures need privacy to cope, heal, and develop a strategy to move forward just like everyone else,” said Amy Morin, psychotherapist, author of “13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do” and the host of a podcast. “Working through issues privately can give them space to manage their emotions and strategize how to move forward without the distraction of outside opinions.”
Just because someone is in the public eye doesn’t render them immune to pain or suffering – from a serious health condition or gossip.
“Instead of speculating and spreading false information, people should allow a safe and respectful space for the person whether they are providing information on their protected health information or not,” Cassine says. “They are not obligated to do so.”
“If we put ourselves in their shoes, we would want to be able to have a private life especially when dealing with sensitive or difficult issues,” Laura Petiford, a licensed marriage and family therapist, previously told USA TODAY. “Yes, they have chosen to lead a life that is more in the public eye but they have not forfeited their human need to draw a distinct line between themselves and those who are interested in them.”
You’d want the same privacy for yourself during life’s cruelest moments, wouldn’t you?
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‘Wish the person well’
If you’re struggling with how to think about Harris – or maybe how to talk to an individual in your life going through some kind of health incident – keep it simple. Maybe a “get well soon” will do. But if you don’t want to say anything at all, you could even send a card or a meal without asking any questions.
Generally speaking: “You can be sensitive to someone’s health struggles without knowing the details,” Morin says. “You can wish the person well without knowing what’s wrong.”