An Emmy-nominated reporter was recently laid off. And it was her birthday to boot. Emmy-nominated reporter Ellina Abovian was one of several journalists laid off from KTLA.
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Sadly, it also happened on her birthday. She was in the midst of celebrating her 40th birthday when the layoff came down. Her friends had been wishing her well. One wrote: "Happy birthday to the stunning and talented Elina." Another said, "Happy birthday my beautiful Pisces sister."
Yet another wrote, "Happy birthday to my bestie, my sista, the one who always makes me smile and laugh. 30 years of friendship and counting... and I wouldn't have it any other way."
Following the layoff, the Emmy-nominated reporter took a swipe at her former employers on a podcast.
She said, "Stop hiding. Stop shrinking. There's a big world out there, and you can be a part of it. You don't have to only exist within your Armenian community. Stop hiding your body, stop thinking you're not good enough. You are so perfect in all your imperfections. If I could say that to my 21-year-old self and just say go for it. What are you waiting for?"
Reporter Discusses Next Chapter
The reporter also added, "I wish my 21-year-old self could have followed all her dreams. I wish she could have gone out there into the world ... and experienced more things instead of looking for safety. But it's easier said than done now being 40. So I'm going to tell myself that now, as if you know it's the 20-year-old in me and do the best with what I have in front of me today."
She's looking forward to the next chapter in her life.
"We don't get do-overs in life but we do get to be who we are right now and to be 40, to feel great in my own skin, to have come this far ... great, let's move through the world now with that certainty and stop trying to go back to 20 or 30. Those chapters are finished and I'm happy that they're finished because it led me here. I guess this is 40. Feeling lighter, loved and looking forward."
Abovian wasn't the only reporter laid off. KTLA owner Nexstar cut staff at the station and also at WPIX-TV.
A spokesman said, "Nexstar does not comment on personnel issues, but the company is taking steps necessary to compete effectively in this period of unprecedented change."
