By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Friday, May 13, 2016
Former Fox 5 anchor Amanda Davis admitted on CBS Atlanta that she is an alcoholic.
She did so in a teaser today for a report that will air Tuesday, May 17 at 11 p.m.
Davis has been arrested at least three times over the years for charges of driving while intoxicated. The 2013 incident in which she hit a car while driving down a one-way street led to her awkward departure at Fox 5. (In that case, she was ultimately deemed not guilty.)
Last year, on the weekend before her return on broadcast TV for CBS Atlanta, she was pulled over yet again and arrested for a DUI. Soon after, she went into rehab last summer and received probation and community service.
CBS Atlanta last year had hired Davis as part of a rotating group of commentators - mostly former journalists - in something called "Just a Minute." She had already pre-taped her first commentary when she was arrested. She chose to take some time off. CBS said she was welcome to come back when she was ready.
In a dramatic 30-second teaser, her body swathed in light with a dark background, she announces, "I'm Amanda Davis. I'm an alcoholic." Then the following words pop up: "DUI arrests," "depression," "life spiraling out of control," "rock bottom," "denial," "faith."
The special report is entitled "Amanda Davis: In Her Own Words."
Davis, who worked at Fox 5 for more than 26 years, has never publicly admitted to alcoholism before or discussed her problem in any fashion. She has never returned my calls or been willing to talk to me over the years.
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