‘Embarrassed’ journo sorry for bizarre TV cross
A Nine Network journalist has apologised on-air after a bizarre slurred live cross from the Winter Olympics went viral.
Source: Today Show
Reporter Danika Mason made her apology after backing on up Thursday with a much more professional bulletin from the Winter Olympics in Milan for Nine’s Today show.
“I just want to take a moment, if that’s OK, just to apologise,” Mason said at the end of Thursday’s update.
“I also wanted to thank everyone who has reached out. I’m just a little bit embarrassed. I totally misjudged a situation.”
It follows an extraordinary appearance on Wednesday in which Mason – a widely respected NRL commentator – spoke about everything from the price of coffee in Italy to iguanas in the US.
“The price of coffee over here is actually fine … it’s actually the price of coffee in the US we have to get used to,” she said.
“I’m not sure about the iguanas? Where are we going with that one?”
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She stumbled over several words in her update before demonstrating snow angels.
Today host Karl Stefanovic suggested on Wednesday that the slurred speech may have had something to do with the frigid air affecting Mason’s lips.
On Thursday, Mason confirmed it was more than that.
“I shouldn’t have had a drink, and especially in these conditions — it’s cold, we’ve got altitude, and not having had dinner probably didn’t help as well,” she said.
“But I want to take full responsibility. It’s not the standard that I set for myself. So in saying that, I’m really sorry and [thank] everyone for those messages that I have received as well.
“We have an amazing few days left here at the Winter Olympics as well, so hopefully we can turn our attention back to that.”
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Stefanovic leapt to her defence.
“You’re the best. Danika. Don’t worry about it. Let’s move on. You’re a legend,” he said.
While, co-host Jayne Azzopardi said: “We know how hard you work, Danika.”
The Nine Network has made no public comments on Mason’s appearance. However, a Nine insider told the News Ltd publications that she should have been pulled from the air.
“Even if producers didn’t cut her off, Karl and Jayne (Azzopardi) have been in this game long enough to know she should not have been on air,” they said.
“There’s an entire control room of staff who could have cut her from the broadcast.”
However, there was more support for Mason on Thursday, from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
“I’m pro Danika,” he said, when asked about the episode in a Nova radio interview.
“Good on her. She’s over in Italy … and she would have been tired. It’s the time difference, would have been having an impact.”
When one radio host suggested Mason was celebrating, the PM quipped:
“Nothing to see here.”
