{"id":303988,"date":"2026-02-27T00:15:08","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T00:15:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/303988\/"},"modified":"2026-02-27T00:15:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T00:15:08","slug":"l-a-tv-reporter-blindsided-by-being-laid-off-on-her-40th-birthday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/303988\/","title":{"rendered":"L.A. TV Reporter “Blindsided” By Being Laid Off On Her 40th Birthday"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tWednesday was supposed to be a happy milestone for Ellina Abovian<\/a>. It was her 40th birthday. To celebrate, she posted an episode of her podcast, Breaking Through, recorded five days ago. The subject: Turning 40.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI\u2019m excited,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m not nervous. I think I was nervous in the years leading up to it\u2026It\u2019s a different feeling. And I think you embrace your age and your maturity in a whole new way. And that\u2019s what I feel right now. it\u2019s a time when I\u2019m going through a lot of whole new changes. And they\u2019re all good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tAbout the time that prerecorded podcast was posted yesterday, Abovian and four of her colleagues at KTLA<\/a> \u2014 weatherman Mark Kriski, weathercaster Kacey Montoya, midday anchors Lu Parker and Glen Walker\u00a0\u2014 were let go as part of a round of layoffs<\/a> by the station\u2019s corporate parent,\u00a0Nexstar<\/a>\u00a0Media Group. Nexstar is seeking to cut costs as it pursues a merger with rival\u00a0Tegna<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\tSo today, less that 24 hours after that optimistic podcast went live, Abovian posted an emotional video message <\/a>to Threads addressing the layoffs.<\/p>\n

\n\tHere is her reaction in full:<\/p>\n

Yes, it\u2019s true. I\u2019m not at KTLA anymore, and I won\u2019t be returning.<\/p>\n

Earlier this week I, along with several of my KTLA dear friends and colleagues, were laid off as part of corporate restructuring.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s been 11 years of being in your living rooms every day. It\u2019s been 11 years of telling your stories. And I\u2019m gonna miss it.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m going to miss my KTLA family. I\u2019m going to miss my photographers, who were my partners in crime every day. I\u2019m going to miss my editors, who would scramble with me last minute to get a story on air. I\u2019m going to miss our producers. I\u2019m going to miss everyone. And especially, I\u2019m going to miss our viewers.<\/p>\n

Because meeting all of you in the field or at the grocery store or just anywhere was part of my life. It\u2019s something I held so close, because I knew the impact. And I\u2019m going to miss it.<\/p>\n

I was not expecting this. I was blindsided, and it hurts. It cuts deep, because I cared about what I did.<\/p>\n

And I understand. Corporate layoffs are a part of life and this is just the game of life. They\u2019re impacting people across multiple industries right now, so I\u2019m not the only one, and my situation certainly isn\u2019t unique. But it\u2019s hard to process considering how it happened.<\/p>\n

I was getting ready to celebrate a milestone birthday. And instead now I\u2019m processing what I\u2019m going to do as a single mom to two kids. Life gets real when it gets real.<\/p>\n

So, KTLA is not the only mountain I\u2019m ever going to climb. In fact, this is just the beginning. I believe that.
I just want to say \u2018Thank you\u2019 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.<\/p>\n

Hang in there. I know I\u2019m not the only one experiencing this right now. I\u2019m going to be OK. And just thank you. I love you guys.<\/p>\n

\n\tRELATED: CNBC To Restructure Newsroom With Some Layoffs<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tHer KTLA compatriots who were also let go have not commented, but KTLA Morning News anchor Frank Buckley did address the cuts on air.<\/p>\n

\n\tBuckely acknowledged the layoffs before saying, \u201cAs 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tHe then promised to continue bringing viewers \u201cthe news you need in the morning before you head out the door.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tOther local broadcasters have also reacted to the layoffs.<\/p>\n

\n\tElex Michaelson, who anchored KTTV\u2019s evening news broadcast from 2018 to 2025 and who now fronts The Story Is with Elex Michaelson on CNN, paid tribute to all five of those laid off. He added, \u201cAs a kid, the OG KTLA Morning News crew (Carlos, Barbara, Mark, Sam, Eric, Gayle, etc) inspired me to want to be a journalist.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tRELATED: Updated List Of Hollywood & Media Layoffs<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\n\tFormer KROQ DJ Ted Stryker weighed in with, \u201cThis really makes me sad. It truly shows that these huge companies have no respect for the audience. LA media talent become such part of our routine, comfort and daily life. And just like that, they are let go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\n\tMark Kriski\u2019s wife, Jennifer Gould, posted thanks to those offering support to him, writing, \u201cKTLA wasn\u2019t a job, it was his passion. He lived, ate & breathed that station\u2026he is a warrior! Like a phoenix he will rise & soar again!\u201d<\/p>\n

Thank you all for the amazing outpouring of love and support for my legendary hubby @MarkKriski<\/a> KTLA wasn’t a job, it was his passion. He lived, ate & breathed that station. But as you’ve seen w\/health battles, he is a warrior! Like a phoenix he will rise & soar again! \ud83d\udcaf \ud83d\ude4c\ud83c\udffb<\/p>\n

\u2014 Jennifer Gould (@jennifergould) February 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n