Updated ,first published
Channel Nine sports reporter Danika Mason has apologised for drinking before an awkward live cross from the Winter Olympics in Italy during which she stumbled over her words.
Mason appeared to slur her words as she delivered the sports package for the Today Show live from Livigno in the Italian Alps on Wednesday morning (AEDT), prompting an awkward response from the hosts in the studio.
On Wednesday, after Mason’s live cross, Stefanovic had told Today viewers unprompted that it can be difficult to speak when reporting from freezing climates.
Footage of Mason’s live-cross went viral after she lost her usual poise during the sports segment before going on a tangent about the price of coffee in Italy. She then went on to make snow angels, eventually coming off-air after around five minutes.
Mason addressed the broadcast as she concluded her first live cross of Today’s Thursday morning program, apologising after she “totally misjudged the situation” the previous day.
“Just before we do go, I just want to take a moment, if that’s OK, just to apologise,” Mason told hosts Karl Stefanovic and Jayne Azzopardi.
“I’m OK, probably just a little embarrassed. Look, I totally misjudged the situation, I shouldn’t have had a drink, especially in these conditions, it’s cold, we’ve got altitude, and not having had dinner probably didn’t help as well. But I want to take full responsibility, it’s not the standard I set myself.
“So in saying that I’m genuinely really sorry and I’m thanking everyone for those messages I’ve 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 and I’ll be back in about half an hour’s time for more sport right here.”
Stefanovic told Mason, “I don’t even know what you’re talking about”, while Azzopardi said to the sports reporter “we know how hard you work”, and “we love you”.
Stefanovic turned up to the live broadcast of the Today program in 2009 drunk following the Logie Awards the night before. He subsequently admitted he had not been at his best, and apologised.
Nine, the owner of this masthead and broadcaster for Today, declined to comment.
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Daniel Lo Surdo is a breaking news reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald. He previously helmed the national news live blog for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect via email.
Calum Jaspan is a media writer for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, based in Melbourne. Reach him securely on Signal @calumjaspan.10Connect via X or email.From our partners
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