Wednesday was supposed to be a happy milestone for Ellina Abovian. It was her 40th birthday. To celebrate, she posted an episode of her podcast, Breaking Through, recorded five days ago. The subject: Turning 40.
“I’m excited,” she said. “I’m not nervous. I think I was nervous in the years leading up to it…It’s a different feeling. And I think you embrace your age and your maturity in a whole new way. And that’s what I feel right now. it’s a time when I’m going through a lot of whole new changes. And they’re all good.”
About the time that prerecorded podcast was posted yesterday, Abovian and four of her colleagues at KTLA — weatherman Mark Kriski, weathercaster Kacey Montoya, midday anchors Lu Parker and Glen Walker — were let go as part of a round of layoffs by the station’s corporate parent, Nexstar Media Group. Nexstar is seeking to cut costs as it pursues a merger with rival Tegna.
So today, less that 24 hours after that optimistic podcast went live, Abovian posted an emotional video message to Threads addressing the layoffs.
Here is her reaction in full:
Yes, it’s true. I’m not at KTLA anymore, and I won’t be returning.
Earlier this week I, along with several of my KTLA dear friends and colleagues, were laid off as part of corporate restructuring.
Now regardless of how you want to word it, the fact remains come Monday I will not be returning to the job I held every day for 11 years. It’s been 11 years of being in your living rooms every day. It’s been 11 years of telling your stories. And I’m gonna miss it.
I’m going to miss my KTLA family. I’m going to miss my photographers, who were my partners in crime every day. I’m going to miss my editors, who would scramble with me last minute to get a story on air. I’m going to miss our producers. I’m going to miss everyone. And especially, I’m going to miss our viewers.
Because meeting all of you in the field or at the grocery store or just anywhere was part of my life. It’s something I held so close, because I knew the impact. And I’m going to miss it.
I was not expecting this. I was blindsided, and it hurts. It cuts deep, because I cared about what I did.
And I understand. Corporate layoffs are a part of life and this is just the game of life. They’re impacting people across multiple industries right now, so I’m not the only one, and my certainly situation isn’t unique. But it’s hard to process considering how it happened.
I was getting ready to celebrate a milestone birthday. And instead now I’m processing what I’m going to do as a single mom to two kids. Life gets real when it gets real.
So, KTLA is not the only mountain I’m ever going to climb. In fact, this is just the beginning. I believe that.
I just want to say ‘Thank you’ from the bottom of my heart, to everyone who has reached out, who has texted, who has called, who has sent me their love. I feel it all, and I am so grateful for all of you.Hang in there. I know I’m not the only one experiencing this right now. I’m going to be OK. And just thank you. I love you guys.
RELATED: CNBC To Restructure Newsroom With Some Layoffs
Her KTLA compatriots who were also let go have not commented, but KTLA Morning News anchor Frank Buckley did address the cuts on air.
Buckely acknowledged the layoffs before saying, “As you probably know, we are extremely limited in what we can say. But if you are a regular viewer of this program or of this TV station, you also know that we are a family here. We consider you to be part of that family. And when family members experience tough times, we all feel it.”
He then promised to continue bringing viewers “the news you need in the morning before you head out the door.”
