Australia Olympic TV reporter apologizes, says she ‘had a drink’ before going live

TV host and broadcaster Danika Mason is seen during the round 10 NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and Dolphins at CommBank Stadium on May 8, 2025, in Sydney, Australia. (Matt King/Getty Images)

SYDNEY, Australia -- A prominent Australian television reporter apologized Thursday after slurring her way through a live broadcast from the Winter Olympics in a clip that went viral.

Channel Nine’s Danika Mason admitted she “had a drink” before delivering her sports update from the Italian Alps on Wednesday.

She stumbled over several words and spoke about everything from the price of coffee in Italy to iguanas in the United States, leaving her co-hosts in the studio bemused.

One of them attempted to explain away her condition by claiming it was difficult to speak when reporting from cold climates.

“I just want to take a moment, if that’s okay, just to apologize,” Mason said at the end of her update on Thursday.

“I also wanted to thank everyone who has reached out. I’m just a little bit embarrassed. I totally misjudged a situation.

“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.

“But I want to take full responsibility. It’s not the standard that I set for myself.”

Studio host Karl Stefanovic, also a high-profile personality, responded by saying: “Don’t worry about it. Let’s move on. You’re a legend.”

AFP