Senior BBC anchor apologizes after giving middle finger while on air
Maryam Moshiri, one of BBC’s chief news presenters, gave a middle finger to the camera, not knowing she was on air.
Moshiri was all set to deliver the afternoon news on Wednesday when she flipped the bird with a cheeky expression for a split second, then returned to being serious as soon as she realized what had happened.
“Live from London, this is BBC News,” she said straight-faced.
: BBC News opens with anchor Maryam Moshiri giving the middle finger🤣🤣
— Rowie (@_rowie__) December 7, 2023
In a social media post, Moshiri clarified that she was joking around with her team members and pretending to count down with her director before they went live.
“The director was counting me down from 10-0, including the fingers to show the number,” she shared. “When we got to 1, I turned [my] finger around as a joke and did not realize that this would be caught on camera.”
Hey everyone , yesterday just before the top of the hour I was joking around a bit with the team in the gallery.
I was pretending to count down as the director was counting me down from 10-0.. including the fingers to show the number. So from 10 fingers held up to one.
When…
— Maryam Moshiri (@BBCMaryam) December 7, 2023
The news anchor, who has been with the BBC for 16 years, apologized about the private joke going on air and said it was never her intention to upset, offend, or flip the bird at anyone.
“It was a silly joke that was meant for a small number of my mates,” Moshiri concluded.Â
We wonder how people would react to an on-air accident like this in Canada, but most British news watchers seem to have found it hilarious and inoffensive.
Many stressed that she did not need to apologize for exercising her sense of humour with her coworkers.
Don’t worry about it! Clear you were only having a moment of levity with crew.
— Jemma Forte (@jemmaforte) December 7, 2023
Wild world we live in when you have to apologise for something like this 😬
— Craig Monaghan (@craig_monaghan) December 7, 2023
Personally, I think you’re a fucking legend
— Supertanskiii (@supertanskiii) December 7, 2023
For some, the incident propelled Moshiri to legendary status.
Personally, I think you’re a fucking legend
— Supertanskiii (@supertanskiii) December 7, 2023
But that doesn’t mean she has absolutely zero haters. There are even calls for her resignation.
please get back in here and love me!🥲 pic.twitter.com/32utiKvNKA
— Let’s Get Wasted (@letsgetwasted__) December 7, 2023
“You got caught, and now come out with this pitiful explanation,” said one. “Resign.”
Bollocks. You got caught and now come out with this pitiful explanation
Resign.
— Mike (@MikeSouthWestUK) December 7, 2023
Another said her six-year-old nephew was “traumatized” by what happened on TV and called for Moshiri to be removed from the air.
My entire extended family have decided not to renew their @bbc TV licence unless you are removed from our screens. In the eyes of many you’ve been particularly unprofessional recently but this was despicable beyond words. My 6 year old nephew saw this and is traumatised.
— Le Souness (@LeSouness) December 7, 2023
Don’t be surprised if you see Moshiri become a meme template in the coming weeks!
please get back in here and love me!🥲 pic.twitter.com/32utiKvNKA
— Let’s Get Wasted (@letsgetwasted__) December 7, 2023