Winter Olympics presenter issues apology statement after TV blunder | Other | Sport
Channel 9 star Danika Mason has gone viral on social media after slurring her way through a live cross from the Winter Olympics in Italy. A situation that led the Australian Prime Minister to weigh in.
Mason said she had ‘misjudged the situation’ by drinking before going on air, adding that the altitude, the cold and the fact she hadn’t eaten dinner had also played a part. Admitting she was ’embarrassed’, Mason said: “I want to take full responsibility, it’s not the standard I set myself.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended the presenter, saying he was ‘pro‑Danika’ and insisting there was ‘nothing to see here’, suggesting she had simply been affected by jet lag.
While holding a microphone and delivering a piece to camera, Danika became slightly incoherent during a live broadcast. She began by saying: “Literally, the price of coffee over here is actually fine. It’s more the price of coffee in the US that we are gonna have to get used to… I’m not sure about… the iguanas? Where are we going with that one?”
She cut herself off to say: “But anyway… Let’s get into the day’s sport, because there is plenty happening back home. We’re gonna start off with some [incoherent], actually their trip to the US, the UK rather, because Reece Walsh has stolen the show, he of course, did that in [incoherent], crowning four tries and claiming…”
Mason stumbled through the remainder of her sports report, muddling her words and even confusing the UK with the US, as studio host Karl Stefanovic laughed in the background. She also appeared to pronounce the rugby team Brisbane Broncos as Brisk Moroccos.
“Look the cold weather is a thing, right?” Stevanovic said unprompted afterwards. “You can’t actually move your lips.”
The prominent sports reporter, best known for her National Rugby League coverage, appeared again on the ‘Today show’ on Thursday morning where she wanted to ‘take a moment’ just to apologise.
“I’m OK, probably just a little embarrassed,” Mason said. “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.”
Today show host Jayne Azzopardi responded by saying: “We know how hard you work, Danika,” while Stefanovic called her a ‘legend’.
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