The Australian newsreader caught napping – or more accurately: staring at her pen – has reportedly been banned from further live appearances.
Presenter Natasha Exelby’s hilarious reaction when she realises the cameras are back on following a late night ABC News 24 story has gone viral.
It happens to the best of them, right? The next day Exelby Tweeted about her late night news faux pas:
Thank U all for ur generous support. Not my finest hour. Myself and my mesmerising pen honourably salute you!
— Natasha Exelby (@NatashaExelby) April 10, 2017
But apparently her ABC employers have not seen the funny side of the gaffe, standing Exelby down from further on-air roles, according to The Daily Telegraph.
Fellow journalists, seemingly as shocked as Exelby was in the graveyard hours of the Saturday night shift, have lept to their comrade’s defence:
My career would have ended with my first country radio job if I’d been punished like this for a much worse but still innocent blooper. https://t.co/MHKwcAemmG
— Latika M Bourke (@latikambourke) April 10, 2017
Utterly ridiculous. I’m not just sticking up for Tash because she’s one of my best friends, but she is a natural, professional presenter https://t.co/PHBV4QNXnI
— Daniela Ritorto (@danielaritorto) April 10, 2017
And even the alternative prime minister has chimed in:
It’s live TV. This is just ridiculous.https://t.co/xy6dp7nKwi
— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) April 10, 2017
