On August 8, 2021, Good Morning America’s weekend host Dan Harris announced that he will be leaving the show in two months.
Dan, who has been working with ABC for 21 years, revealed the news during the live show on Sunday. The journalist said that he had requested ABC News to relieve him of his contract, and they agreed.
Over the years, many fans had grown to love Dan as GMA’s weekend host. Hence, the news evoked a massive reaction from the show’s viewers on social media.
Why is Dan Harris leaving GMA?
On Sunday’s show, Dan revealed the reason for his departure. He shared that he was leaving GMA, as well as ABC, to focus on what has been his side-hustle – a mediation company called Ten Percent Happier that he established some time back.
Talking about his decision to leave, Dan said on GMA: “It’s been a lot to juggle. Even though I am a public proponent of work-life balance, if I am honest, I have struggled to follow my own advice.”
Dan further thanked his bosses at ABC management, calling them “unusually gracious” for letting him leave early despite his contract.
The journalist further went on to say: “This is very hard for me, I love ABC news, I have been here for 20 years. This show, the GMA, has been one of the highlights of my life.”
He will be hosting the show for two more months before his leaving in October 2021.
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A look at the ABC host’s company ‘Ten Percent Happier’
Dan’s company, ‘Ten Percent Happier’, was a result of a nationally televised panic attack he suffered on air during a GMA show in 2004. The ABC host later revealing that the meltdown had been building up for years.
Following the incident, Dan went on a journey of self-discovery and self-help that led him to write a book titled, Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics: A 10% Happier How-To Book, which was released in 2014. It became a New York Times Bestseller.
In his book, the journalist revealed that he had been a workaholic for years, but when he slowed down, he became depressed and self-medicated for while with cocaine. He also revealed that the doctors later said that this had “almost certainly produced the live TV panic attack.”
Following the success of his book, Dan started his highly successful podcast, which is also named Ten Percent Happier. He has hosted guests like Oren Jay Sofer, Jeff Warren and Sebene Selassie.
Ten Percent Happier is now a full-fledged meditation company, with a full-functioning app and website providing tons of material to its users. Aside from the podcast, there are mindfulness courses, guided meditation videos and personal coaching services available.
Fans react to journalist’s departure
Many fans took to Twitter to express their feelings about Dan’s imminent departure. Here’s how a few of them reacted
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