Story by
Rachel Kaser
Internet Culture WriterRachel is a writer and former game critic from Central Texas. She enjoys gaming, writing mystery stories, streaming on Twitch, and horseback Rachel is a writer and former game critic from Central Texas. She enjoys gaming, writing mystery stories, streaming on Twitch, and horseback riding. Check her Twitter for curmudgeonly criticisms.
In case you missed it, one newscaster in Australia became a meme in record time when she was caught daydreaming on-air. Now she’s been demoted for her reverie, and the internet is not happy.
Natasha Exelby, a freelance reporter for ABC News 24 in Australia, was covering late-night news over the weekend when caught in a moment of contemplation. She reacted exactly as anyone would when she realized the cameras were on, and quickly got back to business.
That feeling when you're caught daydreaming at work :) (via @UmmRKSZ ) #mediawatch pic.twitter.com/lRkTbpygfo
— Media Watch (@ABCmediawatch) April 9, 2017
Apparently this slip-up, though brief, was enough to get her banned from future on-air appearances at News 24, according to the Daily Telegraph. Now, the internet at large and Exelby’s fellow reporters are rushing to her defense.
Someone’s already started a petition to get her reinstated, which has about 2,900 signatures so far. Several politicians have reached out in support, including one who threatened to raise the issue with the Senate:
Ok. If people think that is a complete bullshit overreaction that should be raised in SENATE ESTIMATES can you retweet and let me know? pic.twitter.com/31r2xfYlRb
— Sam Dastyari (@samdastyari) April 10, 2017
For their part, other reporters are tweeting their own hilarious gaffes on-air (which presumably didn’t get them fired) under the hashtag #PutYourBloopersOut.
Yep. It happens… @MarcFennell @NatashaExelby pic.twitter.com/Ov79vpZRfn
— Janice Petersen (@JaniceKPetersen) April 9, 2017
@NatashaExelby i'm glad my LITTLE thing wasnt on the ABC they would have had me castrated.#putyourbloopersout
— Mark Aiston (@MarkAiston) April 10, 2017
This treasure trove of bloopers is good for a laugh, and honestly it’s surprising some of these didn’t end with a firing.
@Kieran_Gilbert @byrnesh I once broke down in childish giggling on Sky News after Tony Abbot said he was "between two stools".
— Malcolm Farr (@farrm51) April 10, 2017
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