ABC news anchor Elizabeth Vargas returned to television on Friday morning during an appearance on the network’s Good Morning America following completing a rehab stint for alcoholism.
The 20/20 anchor told George Stephanopoulos that although she tried to hide it for a long time, she’s finally admitting to her disease.
“I am. I am an alcoholic,” she said, ABC News reports. “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 admitted that she thought by acknowledging she was an alcoholic, it meant she was a “failure.” She also called the process of trying to cover it up “exhausting.”
Vargas said her husband, Marc Cohn, knew about her drinking problem and confronted her about it, which made her “really angry” at the time. She also said she knew it got bad when her son started calling her nightly glass of wine “Mommy’s juice.”
Vargas surprised viewers in November when she announced she would be going to rehab to get a hold on her disease.
At the time, she said in a statement “Like so many people, I am dealing with addiction. I realized I was becoming increasingly dependent on alcohol. I am in treatment and am so thankful for the love and support of my family, friends and colleagues at ABC News.”
Vargas will return to 20/20 tonight.
image: ABC