If you turned on Channel 5 in St. Louis any morning for the better part of a decade, you saw him. Anthony Slaughter was the guy with the high-energy forecasts and the easy grin that made 5:00 AM feel a little less painful. Then, one morning in April 2025, he just wasn't there.
No fanfare. No "best of" highlight reel. Just... gone.
Fans were rightfully confused. Honestly, the St. Louis TV market is tight-knit, and viewers treat local anchors like extended family. When a staple like Slaughter vanishes, the rumor mill starts churning at record speeds. People wanted to know if it was a contract dispute, a personal choice, or something more "corporate."
The reality is a bit more complicated—and way more interesting—than a simple resignation.
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What happened to Anthony Slaughter at KSDK?
Let's get the facts straight. Anthony Slaughter was fired from KSDK in late April 2025. This wasn't a "mutual parting of ways" or a "decision to spend more time with family." Those are the phrases stations use when they want to keep things polite. Slaughter himself didn't play that game.
He called his departure "dumbfounding." Think about that for a second. You spend eight years building a brand, becoming the face of "Today in St. Louis," and then you’re told your services are no longer needed. It wasn't just a shock to the viewers; it was a shock to the man in the eye of the storm. According to industry reports from NewsBlues and local chatter in St. Louis Magazine, the decision came down from the higher-ups at Tegna, the company that owns KSDK.
The Corporate Shakeup
KSDK has been going through some things. If you've lived in the Lou for a while, you’ve noticed the revolving door. Longtime favorites like Rene Knott also made exits around the same era, leading to a massive outcry from the local community.
Why get rid of the people viewers actually like?
It basically comes down to a shift in how local news operates. Stations are moving toward different formats—some call it "Weather Impact" branding, others call it budget tightening. Whatever the internal name, it resulted in Slaughter being shown the door. The move sparked an immediate backlash. Viewers on Reddit and Facebook started boycotting the station, claiming KSDK was losing its soul by getting rid of diverse, veteran talent.
Where is Anthony Slaughter now in 2026?
After the initial sting of the firing, Anthony didn't just disappear into a hole. He did what most of us wish we could do after a corporate breakup: he found his freedom.
In late 2025, Slaughter appeared on a podcast titled The Rundown with Rene Knott. It was a raw look at what happens when the red "On Air" light goes out for good. He talked about:
- Burnout: The 2:00 AM wake-up calls for the morning show take a toll on the soul.
- Identity: Who are you when you aren't "Anthony from Channel 5"?
- Creativity: Finding new ways to connect with people without a teleprompter.
By early 2026, Anthony has leaned heavily into his personal life and creative projects. He’s a dad to twin boys who are now hitting those "fun" teenage years. He’s also been vocal about his passions for cooking and travel. If you follow him on social media, you’ll see less about cold fronts and more about the beach—his self-described "happy place."
Is he returning to TV?
As of right now, there is no sign of him jumping back into the St. Louis news cycle at a competitor like KMOV or FOX 2. While some fans were hoping for a "revenge" move to another local station, Slaughter seems to be enjoying the lack of a 2:00 AM alarm clock. He’s mentioned that leaving the job that defined him has actually been liberating.
It's a classic case of a "blessing in disguise," even if that disguise was pretty ugly at first.
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The bigger picture for St. Louis media
What happened to Anthony Slaughter is indicative of a larger trend in local broadcasting. It’s not just a St. Louis problem. Across the country, veteran anchors are being replaced by "multi-media journalists" (MMJs) who are often younger and cheaper for corporate owners to employ.
Slaughter was a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist. That’s a real deal credential from the American Meteorological Society. Losing that level of expertise just to tweak a budget or a "brand" is a risky move for a station, especially in a city like St. Louis where the weather can turn life-threatening in about five minutes.
The audience hasn't forgotten. Even in 2026, the comments sections on KSDK’s social posts are still littered with "Where's Anthony?" and "Bring back Rene."
How to support your favorite local talent:
If you’re still missing Anthony on your morning commute, the best thing you can do is follow his journey on his verified social channels. In the modern age, "the talent" doesn't need a massive tower and an FCC license to reach people.
- Check out his personal content: He often shares updates on his life, cooking, and family.
- Support independent local media: Look for podcasts and local creators who aren't tied to corporate conglomerates.
- Voice your opinion: Stations do actually track viewer sentiment, though they might not always act on it immediately.
Anthony Slaughter’s exit from KSDK was a messy end to a great run, but it’s clear he’s moved on to a chapter where he finally gets to set the forecast for his own life.