CNN live from ladies' room during Bush address
- TV's worst ever ooops? by Gulliver
It had to be one of television's worst ever ooops! We were
referring to CNN anchorwoman Kyra Phillips's open mic blunder
bang in the middle of a George W Bush broadcast.
The hilarious gaffe occurred when the reporter left the studio
to go to the ladies room during the US President's address
live from New Orleans a year on from Hurricane Katrina.
Bush was in full flight explaining the failings to devastated
New Orleans and how if there was another natural disaster
the US must react better.
But viewers, instead of focusing on the President's remarks
were tuning into this conversation which was clearly audible
over the President's words:
Kyra Phillips: "Assholes. Yeah, I'm very lucky in
that regard with my husband. My husband is handsome and he
is genuinely a loving, you know, no ego (unintelligible) you
know what I'm saying. Just a really passionate, compassionate
great, great human being. And they exist. They do exist. They're
hard to find. Yup. But they are out there."
Woman: "We'll see. He's going to come, you know, he's
set for an extended visit. (unintelligible)"
Phillips: "I mean, that's, that's how you figure it
all out, those extended visits. (laughter)"
Woman: "Yeah, but my mom, I think she really likes
him."
Phillips: "Mom's got a good vibe? Good."
Woman: "Yeah, my brother's the one that (unintelligible)"
Phillips: "Brother-of course, brothers have to be,
you know, protective. Except for mine. I've got to be protective
of him."
Woman: (unintelligible)
Phillips: "Yeah. He's married, three kids, but his
wife is just a control freak."
Unidentified woman 2: "Kyra."
Phillips: "Yeah, baby?"
Woman 2: "Your mic is on. Turn it off. It's been on
the air."
When she got back on air Phillips offered this apology to
viewers: "And by the way, we apologize for a little bit
of an interruption there."
CNN has since issued its own official apology "to our
viewers and the President for the disruption," and apologized
to the White House.
In a subsequent statement, CNN explained the mishap as "a
technical malfunction with the audio board. We're addressing
how this happened and why it was not more promptly corrected
on air."
We wonder what Phillips had to say by way of apology to her
brother and sister-in-law!
