KTLA Fires Top Reporters, Including Ellina Abovian, on Her 40th Birthday

Veteran anchors and meteorologists also let go amid station restructuring

Feb. 26, 2026 at 12:37am

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KTLA, the Los Angeles TV station, has fired several of its top on-air personalities, including Emmy-nominated reporter Ellina Abovian, on her 40th birthday. Other staffers let go include longtime weekday morning weather anchor Mark Kriski, meteorologist Kacey Montoya, and veteran midday anchors Glen Walker and Lu Parker. The layoffs were part of a broader restructuring at the station, which is owned by Nexstar Media Group.

Why it matters

The firings of such high-profile and long-serving KTLA personalities have sent shockwaves through the Los Angeles media community, with many expressing shock and sadness at the way the station handled the dismissals, especially on Abovian's birthday. The cuts also raise questions about the future direction and stability of the station under its new corporate ownership.

The details

Abovian, who had been with KTLA for over a decade, took to social media to celebrate her 40th birthday just hours after the news of her firing broke. Many of her friends and colleagues posted messages wishing her well. Abovian also released a cryptic podcast episode on the same day, hinting at her departure from the station. The other staffers let go, including Kriski, Montoya, Walker, and Parker, were also longtime fixtures at KTLA known for their work on the station's morning and midday programming.

  • Ellina Abovian was fired by KTLA on her 40th birthday, February 26, 2026.
  • The layoffs at KTLA were announced on Monday, February 24, 2026.

The players

Ellina Abovian

An Emmy-nominated reporter who had been with KTLA for over a decade before being fired on her 40th birthday.

Mark Kriski

A longtime weekday morning weather anchor at KTLA who was let go as part of the station's restructuring.

Kacey Montoya

A meteorologist at KTLA who was among the on-air personalities dismissed in the layoffs.

Glen Walker

A veteran midday anchor at KTLA who helped lead the station's three-hour late-morning news block.

Lu Parker

A veteran midday anchor at KTLA who was also let go as part of the station's restructuring.

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What they’re saying

“Stop hiding. Stop shrinking. There's a big world out there and you can be a part of it. You don't have to only exist within your Armenian community.”

— Ellina Abovian (Ellina Abovian's podcast)

“Kriski was beloved, been [with the station] for 30 years. Everyone is devastated and worried about the future of the station. That includes many of the people in charge in LA, who seemed to be blindsided themselves.”

— KTLA on-air personality (The New York Post)

“Did I see it coming? I would say no. I had a great run at KTLA and I intend to have another run somewhere else. And stay tuned.”

— Glen Walker, Veteran Midday Anchor (The California Post)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The abrupt and seemingly insensitive firings of long-serving KTLA personalities on Ellina Abovian's birthday have left the Los Angeles media community reeling, raising concerns about the station's future direction under new corporate ownership and the treatment of veteran journalists.