Tipsy Australian Olympic reporter apologizes for drinking before she went on the air
What are the Olympics without a little fun and games?
Judging by some stories that have come out of the Olympics, there have definitely been a lot of fun moments.
Just ask Canadian skier Cassidy Gray, who went viral for her obsession with NHL hockey player Seth Jarvis. Or Canadian bobsledders Jay Dearborn and Mike Evelyn O’Higgins, who can’t stop doing interviews without dropping hockey cliches.
That all goes without mentioning that the Olympic village in Cortina d’Ampezzo ran out of condoms.
So yes, these Olympic Games have been filled with fun.
However, one newscaster recently got in a bit of hot water for perhaps having too much fun.
Australian Channel 9 broadcaster Danika Mason went viral earlier this week after giving an interview on TV where she appeared to be inebriated.
During the clip, Mason was slurring her words and had a hard time keeping up with what the hosts were saying.
@news.com.au During Wednesday’s live cross from Italy, Danika Mason struggled with the sports headlines, slurring and repeating lines, before Karl Stefanovic intervened on air to support her and wrap the segment. #TodayShow #WinterOlympics #MilanoCortina2026 ♬ original sound – News.com.au
It certainly wasn’t egregious, but it was noticeable enough that the clip went viral.
After her hit on live Australian TV made its way around the globe, Mason issued an apology for the ordeal one day later.
“I just want to take a moment, if that’s okay, just to apologize,” Mason said.
She then shed some light on the situation that led to her viral interview.
“Look, I totally misjudged a situation,” she said. “I shouldn’t have had a drink, especially in these conditions.”
“It’s cold, we’ve got altitude, and not having dinner probably didn’t help as well.”
@news.com.au Danika Mason has apologised live on TV after slurring her words in a trainwreck live cross from the Winter Olympics, admitting that she was affected by drinking, altitude, and the cold. Credit 🎥 TODAY – Nine #WinterOlympics #MilanoCortina2026 ♬ original sound – News.com.au
Most of the online commenters seemed to be backing Mason.
“Forgiven. Immediately,” one commenter said.
“Girl, it was perfect conditions for a drink ðŸ˜ðŸ˜‚,” said another.
In fact, most people online were questioning why she even had to apologize at all.
“I’m sorry you had to say sorry,” one person said.
“What’s the crime? A succulent drink?!?” said another.
Mason has been a sports reporter in Australia for more than a decade, primarily covering the National Rugby League. She also announced her engagement to rugby player Liam Knight back in October.