During his final newscast Friday, Dillard revealed that FOX 26 chose not to renew his contract, ending his nearly three-year run at the Houston station.
“They are well within their right to do so,” Dillard said, adding that he respected the decision.
Chron has reached out to FOX 26 for comment.
Dillard, who announced his departure on Monday, thanked his colleagues and viewers during the emotional farewell. He said he hoped he had served the community with excellence and professionalism.
He also shared a heartfelt message with his co-anchor, Melissa Wilson.
“Melissa, I love you so, so much,” Dillard said. “Thank you for having my back on air and behind the scenes in rooms I was not in as well.”
Dillard recalled feeling nervous about stepping into Griñan’s role but ultimately decided to bring his own personality to the newscast.
“I knew I couldn’t be him, so I chose to just be me,” he told viewers. “Thank you for loving me, all of me, accepting me.”
Viewers expressed disappointment and frustration in the comments of a social media post Dillard shared of his farewell.
“You know you are the reason we watch FOX 26 Houston in the morning?” one viewer wrote.
“I still can’t believe they didn’t fight to keep you,” another commented, suggesting rival KPRC 2 hire him. “I’d switch to watching them in the mornings in a heartbeat.”
Before arriving in Houston, Dillard worked as an evening anchor and reporter at WEWS in Cleveland, where he won two Emmy Awards.
While Dillard has not announced his next destination, he assured viewers they haven’t seen the last of him on television.
“As for what’s next, I’m going to bed,” he joked.
“I will be on TV again,” he added, promising to share details about his next move.