Elizabeth Vargas will leave ABC News and “20/20” in May after more than 20 years at the network.
Vargas, 55, announced her exit in a memo to her colleagues that leaked on Friday.
“I will be leaving ABC News and ’20/20′ at the end of this historic 40th season,” Vargas wrote in the memo, revealed by CNN’s Hadas Gold. “It has been a profound privilege to be the anchor of 20/20 for 14 years, and a true honor to work with each and every one of you. I am incredibly lucky to work alongside the very best in the business: the producers, editors, writers on this show, and the enormous team working every week to get our show on the air. I am so very proud of the stories we have told together.”
“I am sorry only to have to share this news with you as we celebrate the holidays. I had hoped to make this announcement after the first of the year,” she continued. “This is not goodbye — I will be here through May, and cannot wait to do more work with all of you in the months ahead.”
Vargas began her tenure at ABC as a reporter for “Good Morning America” in 1996. In 1997, Vargas was named co-anchor of “World News Tonight Saturday.” She became co-anchor of “20/20” in 2004 and “World News Tonight” in 2005.
In November 2013, Vargas went dark on “20/20” to check into rehab for alcohol addiction for the first time.
In January 2014, she opened up about her struggle with alcoholism.
“I am an alcoholic,” she revealed on “Good Morning America.” “It took me a long time to admit that to myself. It took me a long time to admit it to my family, but I am,” she said. “The amount of energy I expended keeping that secret and keeping this problem hidden from view was exhausting.”
She went back to rehab in August 2014.
In September 2016, Vargas recalled a harrowing 13-hour blackout that she suffered in July 2012. She further detailed her battles with alcoholism and anxiety in her book, “Between Breaths: A Memoir of Panic and Addiction,” released in September 2016.
ABC News president James Goldston revealed in a gushing memo to staff, obtained by Variety, that the exit was Vargas’ choice in order “to pursue new ventures.”
He added, “From co-anchor of ‘World News Tonight’ to news anchor for ‘GMA,’ Elizabeth has served in many key roles here and won nearly every award in broadcasting along the way. But we were most proud of her courage and grace in telling her own story about her struggle with anxiety and alcoholism. Her best-selling memoir has helped so many people by raising awareness about the importance of finding treatment for millions who are still struggling. She continues to be an inspiration for us all.”
The Daily Mail first reported Vargas’ exit.