The Exact Moment Reporters RUINED Their Careers...

Top 10 Reporters Who Ruined their Career in One Moment

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for when news reporters, journalists, and TV anchors seriously impacted their careers, for whatever reasons.

#10: Brian Williams

Brian Williams was a high-profile managing editor and anchor for “NBC Nightly News.” But in 2015, his rep took a big hit due to allegations concerning his coverage of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. At first, Williams claimed he had been in a helicopter in Iraq that had to land after another chopper was nearly struck by an RPG. Over the years, his story changed to his aircraft needing to land after being hit. Soldiers who were there at the time contested the newer versions of Williams’s story. While the anchor eventually apologized for exaggeration, the damage was done, and he was suspended and eventually moved to a lesser position.

#9: Ivory Hecker

It’s not often a reporter purposely tanks their career live on TV. But in 2021, that’s what Ivory Hecker did on the local news affiliate Fox 26 Houston. On the air, Hecker launched into a rant that Fox had been what she called muzzling her and other reporters about topics she wanted to cover. She stated she would release secret recordings made with the right-wing activist group Project Veritas. These revolved around promoting the disproven hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment. After being initially suspended for her on-air outburst, unsurprisingly, Hecker was fired.

#8: Ken Rosato

Having joined New York’s WABC-TV in 2003 as a reporter, the Emmy Award-winning Ken Rosato eventually became the channel’s anchor for “Eyewitness News This Morning.” Yet after decades in the business, in 2023, Rosato found himself in hot water. Reportedly, he was heard calling co-host Shirleen Allicot an insult on an open microphone. While the show was off-air and the audio wasn’t broadcast to the viewing audience, it was heard by production staff in the studio. There were allegations the comment was offensive. However, Rosato’s representatives denied this to be the case. Regardless, WABC-TV moved quickly and fired the anchor.

#7: Aaron Calvin

It started with a man named Carson King in the background of ESPN’s “College GameDay” coverage, holding a jokey sign with his Venmo stating he needed beer money. After a big response, King started raising money for The University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital and finished his campaign with millions in donations. During the fame, reporter Aaron Calvin did a profile on King for the Des Moines Register, in which he mentioned the fundraiser’s problematic social media account from years before when he was a teen. After making the post, and King’s apology, Calvin was harassed, had his life threatened, and his own potentially problematic tweets parsed. Eventually, the Des Moines Register fired Calvin.

#6: Lydia Cumming

It’s usually not great when a reporter becomes a viral meme. But that’s what happened to reporter Lydia Cumming in 2016 as she covered a flood in Puebla, Mexico, for TV Azteca. Taken by a photographer at the scene, Cumming was hoisted up in the air by two locals, seemingly to avoid her shoes getting wet. After the image got out, she was photoshopped into all sorts of situations. However, TV Azteca was less than impressed with the social media fame. They fired Cumming for disrespectfully using local residents in a trying time. In an interview afterward, Cumming claimed the residents wanted to show her their elderly disabled neighbor and offered to carry her, which she briefly agreed to.

#5: Rick Sanchez

After joining CNN in 2004 as a reporter, Rick Sanchez quickly rose up the ranks as a news anchor, even getting his own program with “Rick’s List.” But in 2010, that vanished when he appeared on Sirius XM's radio program “Stand Up With Pete Dominick.” Angered by reports about his show’s time slot being replaced, and with Jon Stewart for comedic jabs at him, Sanchez called Stewart a “bigot.” Sanchez then claimed CNN and other networks discriminated against him, and made comments about Stewart’s ethnic background and the news business. Very unsurprisingly, Sanchez was soon fired from CNN and later joined Fox.

#4: Marly Rivera

As a reporter for ESPN and the Spanish-language channel ESPN Deportes, Marly Rivera was one of the biggest names in sports journalism. After all, she was included in the Sports Illustrated article “The 30 Most Influential Hispanics in Sports” in 2017. But in 2023, that reputation took a hit. Before a New York Yankees game, freelancer Ivón Gaete tried to interview Aaron Judge, but Rivera argued with Gaete that she had already scheduled an interview with the MLB star. The faceoff was recorded, which included Rivera using an expletive while insulting Gaete. To make it worse for Rivera, Gaete is married to the MLB vice president of communications, John Blundell. While Rivera apologized, Gaete reportedly rejected it, and Rivera was soon fired by ESPN.

#3: Chris Cuomo

Prominent anchor and journalist Chris Cuomo joined CNN in 2013 and eventually got his own program, “Cuomo Prime Time.” And with his brother, Andrew Cuomo, being the governor of New York, he had some pretty good connections. Well, that was until multiple misconduct allegations came out about the governor. While Cuomo publicly stated he couldn’t talk about the story due to his close connection, reportedly, behind the scenes, the anchor and licensed attorney advised his brother on dealing with the scandal and used his sources to gather information on the accusers. After being briefly suspended by CNN during an investigation, Cuomo was let go by the network in 2021.

#2: Megyn Kelly

After leaving Fox, Megyn Kelly became one of the highest-paid anchors when she joined NBC in 2017. And one of her main tasks was hosting her own talk show, “Megyn Kelly Today.” Yet in 2018, one segment, in particular, caused a massive scandal for Kelly. As a panel discussed the topic of offensive blackface, Kelly stated when she was a child, that was okay as long as people were playing a character. She then defended the actions of Luann de Lesseps, who was criticized when cosplaying as Diana Ross. Days later, Kelly’s show was canceled. In early 2019, she was dropped by NBC but also received the remaining $30 million from her contract.

#1: Matt Lauer

After joining NBC in 1992, Matt Lauer would become one of the network’s most recognizable and marketable faces. On top of being an anchor for the “Today” show, Matt Lauer also hosted the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Olympic Games opening ceremonies. Then, in 2017, NBC received a detailed report from a female colleague accusing Lauer of harassment that began during the coverage of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia. After an investigation by the network, they fired the host from his hosting and reporting.duties. And not long after, further allegations came out about Lauer during his time at NBC.

What reporter or host do you think impacted their career the most? Let us know in the comments.