Journalist Bill Ritter recently made headlines after opening up about his health on air. During a recent broadcast, he revealed that he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, leading him to step down from his role as anchor. Since then, he has shared more about the story with fans on Good Morning America. During the moment, he also shared what inspired him to get tested and what convinced him to share his story.
Bill Ritter Was One Of The Founding Co-Hosts Of Good Morning America Sunday
Ritter is a journalist known for his work with WABC-TV, starting with the outlet in 1998. Over the years, he had been part of a number of programs, including 20/20, Eyewitness News, and Good Morning America Sunday.
Recently, Ritter announced that he would be stepping down from his position with the network while on the air. At the time, he revealed that this followed him being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He shared that this wasn’t a full retirement, as he would still be working with the network, especially in regard to promoting Alzheimer’s awareness.
Days after this announcement, Ritter appeared on Good Morning America to discuss the news. During the appearance, he opened up about the early signs of his condition.
Ritter shared, “I realize I was forgetting people’s names and places. Didn’t know why this was happening.”
The journalist shared that his wife, Kathleen, had also noticed these changes. However, no one else seemed to pick up on any changes.
Ritter Also Shared That He Felt That He Owed It To His Viewers To Be ‘Honest’ With Them
Initially, Ritter thought he was merely dealing with a heavy work schedule. This even caused him to cut back his duties at the network, leaving the 11 PM and, later, the 5 PM broadcasts. He shared, “I was sleeping for the first time at night. For the first time in 25 years. Finally getting a decent night’s sleep and it wasn’t getting better.”
This convinced Ritter to get tested. He noted, “That really was an important thing. A lot of people say, ‘I’m fine, don’t worry about it, I’m going to be fine.’ No. You gotta go do this.”
Ritter first went public with his diagnosis during the June 12 broadcast, where he announced that he would be stepping down as anchor. As a journalist, he shared that he felt he owed it to viewers to be honest with them about what was going on.
During his recent GMA appearance, he shared that he also wanted to focus more on the people closest to him. As he shared, “Because Alzheimer’s really affects the family most. As a dad and a husband, I said, ‘I gotta deal with this. This is my family. And that’s what I’m really worried about.’”
What is your reaction to Bill Ritter’s recent share? Make sure you come back to TV Shows Ace for all the latest reality TV and celebrity news.
John Witiw has been a writer since at least 2015. He’s covered a variety of topics, especially when it comes to film and television.
