Reggie Aqui, a beloved anchor at ABC7 News Bay Area, bid an emotional farewell during Tuesday's broadcast, announcing his departure after a decade with the network. The 48-year-old journalist fought back tears as he thanked viewers for their support, calling them his 'co-anchors'.
In a light-hearted moment, Aqui joked about his tenure: '10 years is a long time. In dog years, that's like going from a puppy to a senior. Had I been good at math and science, I could've been a doctor or a scientist in those 10 years.' He also quipped that his proudest career moment was winning a Murrow Award, before admitting the organisation had not actually awarded him.
Becoming visibly emotional, Aqui addressed viewers directly: 'I'm including you because you are always a part of this. Of course, I don't know all your names. But when I meet you on the street, at the store or in my DMs, you tell me that we make your day just a little bit better and the news a little easier to swallow.' He added, 'Everything is bad, only it isn't,' explaining he tried 'every day to give us all a softer place to land'.
Aqui concluded: 'I'm going to take those relationships, including my daily one with you, I'm going to take that over an Emmy. 10 years. I'm so happy it happened. I am sad that it's over, and that's perfect because that is my favourite kind of emotion: happy and sad.'
He joined ABC7 in October 2015, having previously worked in Portland, Oregon, and Atlanta. The reason for his exit has not been disclosed. On Instagram, Aqui wrote: 'Not sure what's next, other than a much-deserved nap. What a ride that was.' He lives in San Francisco with his husband, Phil.
