Holly Morris Bids Farewell to FOX 5 DC After 25 Years
In 2024, Holly Morris said goodbye to FOX 5 DC, marking the end of a distinguished 25-year career in journalism.
While her career is nothing short of impressive, a viral video on YouTube with millions of views might not be the legacy she wishes to be remembered for.
A Career Worth Remembering
Holly Morris, a Washington DC TV reporter, has had a remarkable journey in journalism.
Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, the 54-year-old graduated from Duke University in 1993 with a civil engineering degree.
She began her broadcasting career in 1998 at WTTG, a FOX network affiliate in Washington D.C. As part of a team of four anchors, she quickly became a staple of the morning newscast and the Good Day DC show.
Her hands-on approach to reporting, where she immersed herself in community events while delivering the news, earned her recognition across the region.
To understand just how highly regarded Holly Morris has been, look no further than her impressive collection of awards. She’s won four regional Emmy Awards for Best Live Reporting and a regional Edward R. Murrow Award.
Holly Morris’ Career: Controversies, Awkward Moments, and a Messy Divorce
While Holly Morris’ career has been impressive, it hasn’t been without its share of controversies and awkward moments. In 2014, she participated in the viral Ice Bucket Challenge on FOX 5 to raise awareness for ALS.
However, years before that, she became a target of ridicule on the nationally syndicated Don and Mike Show. In 2007, the show aired a weekly segment called The Wheel of Holly, where old clips of her reporting were played at random for laughs.
A Messy Divorce
In 2016, after years of speculation, Holly Morris finally opened up about the messy details of her 2005 divorce from former FOX 5 weatherman Tom Sater.
On FOX 5’s podcast, Morris candidly discussed how her marriage fell apart due to Sater’s affair with a co-worker and his struggles with addiction — details she had never publicly addressed until then.
Morris shared the emotional pain she felt after learning that many of her colleagues had known about the affair long before she did. To make matters worse, she was unknowingly co-anchoring morning newscasts with the very woman her husband had been seeing behind her back.
Though Morris didn’t name those involved, it was widely known that Sater’s affair was with former FOX 5 anchor Gurvir Dhindsa, whom he later married, according to The Washington Post. The couple went on to have twins in 2008.
Meanwhile, Sater’s time at FOX 5 came to a sudden end under unclear circumstances, leaving questions about whether his personal life had played a role in his departure.
Even after the truth emerged, the situation remained complicated. Morris and Dhindsa continued to work together at the station for several years, which created an incredibly awkward work environment. Morris even claimed that Dhindsa had developed an unsettling obsession with her, mimicking her wardrobe choices and even sending her emails under a fake name.
“She’s cray-cray,” Morris remarked.
Holly Morris’ Husband and Personal Life
After enduring personal turmoil, Holly Morris eventually found happiness. She reconnected with her former college crush, lawyer Thomas Espy, and the two tied the knot on July 21, 2007. The couple settled in Rockville, Maryland, where they built a life together and welcomed their son, Hayden Espy.
Looking back on her divorce, Morris views it as a blessing in disguise.
“It’s the best damn thing that ever happened to me,” she reflected.
A Slip-Up with Obama
One of the most significant controversies surrounding Holly Morris occurred in 2013 when a live TV slip-up sparked immediate outrage from viewers and social media users.
While covering President Barack Obama’s second inauguration, Morris intended to say “inaugural” but mistakenly uttered a racial slur instead, continuing on as if nothing had happened.
”We are live this morning at the Willard Continental Hotel,” she said. ”It’s been a key n—– inaugural spot for over 150 years.”
The incident quickly went viral, with many Twitter users expressing anger and disbelief. One user wrote, ”Fox 5’s Holly Morris is an evil human being. The ‘N’ inaugural. WTF?” while another added, ”Ok, no one makes ‘mistakes’ like that unless ur using the word frequently.”
Despite the backlash, Morris never publicly addressed the slip-up. However, some came to her defense. Rival TV correspondent Russ Ptacek suggested it was an unfortunate mistake, tweeting, ”Words can come out backwards live and sound like offensive words. Not funny, but not intentional.”
Millions of Views on YouTube
On March 15, 2024, Holly Morris bid farewell to FOX 5 and the world of local TV news. While her career had been relatively quiet in recent years, a viral YouTube video has now brought her back into the spotlight.
The video, which dates back to June 4, 2023, shows Morris on the morning show Good Day DC, looking as cheerful and upbeat as ever. However, it wasn’t her news reporting that captured everyone’s attention this time.
In the footage, Morris is seen sitting in a short dress, with her seated position potentially revealing more than intended. What’s particularly surprising is that neither she nor the cameraman seemed to notice the situation.
The camera angle remained unchanged, and no attempt was made to adjust the shot or prevent the revealing moment from airing. The clip quickly went viral, igniting conversations about live TV slip-ups and wardrobe mishaps.
One commenter summed up the online reaction, writing, ”How does she just go on about her day knowing what she did? I think everyone in news is talking about this… hopefully learning lol.”
Later, the same user added, ”After this day, it’s like a memo went out. The last couple of weeks have been brutal. Mainly pants and long dresses on everyone.”
