Australian Winter Olympics presenter Danika Mason has apologised after appearing to slur her words during a live television report, attributing the incident to drinking, altitude, cold weather, and not having eaten dinner.
Mason, a Channel Nine reporter, appeared on The Today Show the following day to address the viral clip, saying: 'I want to take full responsibility, it's not the standard I set myself.' She described feeling 'embarrassed' by the incident.
During the original segment on Wednesday, Mason stumbled over her words while discussing coffee prices and sports events, at one point saying: '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.' Studio host Karl Stefanovic was seen laughing in the background.
The clip sparked widespread reaction on social media, with Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese weighing in, saying he was 'pro-Danika' and suggesting jet lag may have been a factor. Many viewers found humour in the moment, with one user joking about 'altitude sickness'.
Mason, best known for Rugby League coverage, thanked viewers for their concern and reiterated her apology, saying she had 'misjudged the situation'. Co-host Jenny Azzopardi praised her work ethic, while Stefanovic called her a 'legend'.
