Following a viral clip of him struggling to speak during a live interview at the Italian Winter Olympics, a TV sports host expressed regret and sought understanding from the public, admitting he “shouldn’t have been drinking.”
Danica Mason, a reporter for Australia’s Channel 9, acknowledged she “misjudged the situation” by having drinks before going live. She also mentioned that factors like high altitude, cold weather, and skipping dinner contributed to how things unfolded.
“I want to take full responsibility. This isn’t the standard I aim for,” she shared in a subsequent broadcast, adding, “I’m embarrassed.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remarked that he supported Danica and didn’t see any indication that she was suffering from jet lag.
According to reports, Mason fumbled her words while covering the day’s events, made comments about iguanas and coffee prices, and seemed intoxicated.
“The cost of coffee here is actually reasonable. The real adjustment has to be made for coffee prices in the U.S. I’m not sure about iguanas. Where does that fit in?” she said on the outside breakfast TV show Today, responding to questions from the host.
She continued to struggle through her sports report, mixing up phrases and references, while studio host Karl Stefanovic could be heard chuckling in the background.
“The cold is tough,” the Australian co-host casually noted afterward. “It makes it hard to move your lips.”
Mason, recognized as a rugby commentator, returned to the Today show the following morning and expressed disappointment over letting down her network, family, and herself with her performance.
After a live segment, she took a moment to apologize to viewers, saying, “If you don’t mind, I’d like to take a moment to address this.”
She appreciated viewer messages of concern and added:
“I completely misjudged the situation. I shouldn’t have been drinking in such circumstances. It’s cold, the altitude is high, and not eating dinner likely didn’t help. I want to take full responsibility. This isn’t the standard I expect from myself.”
“I sincerely apologize and thank everyone for their supportive messages.”
