KPRC 2 in Houston suspended news anchor Daniella Guzman on Wednesday after the station became aware of reports that she received free tickets to a FIFA World Cup match in June and a Bruno Mars concert at NRG Stadium in April. Guzman received the tickets from the Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation (HCSCC), per KPRC 2’s statement.
“We take matters regarding potential conflicts of interest very seriously,” KPRC 2 said in its statement released Wednesday. “Ms. Guzman has been suspended pending the result of a company investigation.”
The suspension comes after The Texas Voice’s Mark McCaig reported that public records obtained from HCSCC showed Guzman received three tickets to the June 17 World Cup match between Portugal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, along with four tickets to Bruno Mars’ April 24 concert at NRG Stadium.
Guzman posted video from the World Cup match on social media showing her attending the game with her parents from a luxury suite.
According to Houston media reporter Mike McGuff, the value of the tickets appears to be a key factor in the station’s decision to suspend Guzman while it reviews the matter.
“After talking to several current and former TV news management types, they tell me KPRC is addressing this due to the high dollar amount behind the cost of World Cup/Bruno Mars concert tickets,” McGuff wrote. “In fact, it sounds like a general ballpark number of an acceptable media ‘gift’ in the form of tickets, for example, would be around $75 based on what I am told by different broadcast company employees.”
The HCSCC, a county-created entity that manages and develops NRG Park on behalf of Harris County, has provided complimentary event tickets to other public officials and political figures, according to records obtained by The Texas Voice. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo; Commissioners Lesley Briones, Rodney Ellis; Adrian Garcia and Tom Ramsey; Ellis’ chief of staff Brandon Dudley; former Houston City Council member and Democratic Harris County judge nominee Letitia Plummer; HCSCC board appointee Elsa Flores; and Erica Lee Carter, the daughter of late U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee who recently became Harris County’s administrator. A Houston Chronicle report in April revealed a similar collection of complimentary tickets, in which multiple public officials received free tickets from the HCSCC to the Houston Rodeo.
Guzman is the only public figure to be suspended or removed from their position regarding either Houston Rodeo or Houston World Cup tickets. She joined KPRC 2 in 2022 after more than 10 years at NBC-owned stations in Chicago and Los Angeles, and she is a four-time Emmy Award winner.
More News
Lists | CNBC’s states ranking sets off Texas lawmakers and GOP leaders
Health | 9 Houston hospitals warned over federal price transparency violation
Economy | Huge $3.2B shipyard picks Texas over California, creating 10,000 jobs
World Cup | Houston World Cup performance draws praise worldwide
For the latest and best from Chron, sign up for our daily newsletter here.
This article originally published at Houston news anchor suspended over free World Cup, Bruno Mars tickets.