Drunk Aussie reporter apologizes after slurred Olympic report
Danika Mason made snow angels live on broadcast.
Photo from Channel Nine.
Australian sports reporter Danika Mason has apologized after a live cross from the Winter Olympics went viral for her slurred speech and unusual comments.
During the 18 February broadcast on Channel Nine’s Today show, Mason appeared visibly off-balance, discussing the price of coffee and saying, “I’m not sure about the iguanas. Where are we going with that one?” She also rambled about the U.S. and U.K. before stumbling through the rest of her sports report.
Mason later told viewers she had “misjudged the situation” by drinking ahead of her segment, citing the cold, altitude, and missing dinner as factors. “I want to take full responsibility, it’s not the standard I set myself,” she said during a subsequent appearance. “I’m genuinely really sorry, and I’m thanking everyone for those messages I’ve received as well.”
Channel Nine host Karl Stefanovic responded during the segment, saying, “Look the cold weather is a thing, right. You can’t actually move your lips.” Fellow Today host Jayne Azzopardi added, “We know how hard you work, Danika,” while Stefanovic later called her a “legend.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended Mason, telling Nova Melbourne radio that she was likely affected by fatigue and jet lag. “Good on her, she’s over in Italy and she would have been tired. It’s the time difference, it would have been having an impact. Nothing to see here,” he said.
Mason is known for her National Rugby League coverage and had been reporting from Italy on the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Social media reactions to her segment were mixed, with some finding it entertaining and others criticizing it as unprofessional.
Iguana confusion: Mason asked, “I’m not sure about the iguanas,” mid-report.
Coffee commentary: “Literally like the price of coffee over here is actually fine, it’s more the price of coffee in the US that we’re gonna have to get used to.”
Snow angels: Mason briefly lay down to make snow angels during her report.
UK vs US mix-up: Mason switched between discussing the U.K. and U.S., creating comic confusion.
