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 Masonโs live cross, Stefanovic had told Today viewers unprompted that it can be difficult to speak when reporting from freezing climates.
Footage of Masonโs 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 Todayโs Thursday morning program, apologising after she โtotally misjudged the situationโ the previous day.
โJust before we do go, I just want to take a moment, if thatโs OK, just to apologise,โ Mason told hosts Karl Stefanovic and Jayne Azzopardi.
โIโm OK, probably just a little embarrassed. Look, I totally misjudged the situation, I shouldnโt have had a drink, especially in these conditions, itโs cold, weโve got altitude, and not having had dinner probably didnโt help as well. But I want to take full responsibility, itโs not the standard I set myself.
โSo in saying that Iโm genuinely really sorry and Iโm thanking everyone for those messages Iโve 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 Iโll be back in about half an hourโs time for more sport right here.โ
Stefanovic told Mason, โI donโt even know what youโre talking aboutโ, while Azzopardi said to the sports reporter โwe know how hard you workโ, and โwe love youโ.
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.
