3 weeks ago
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Danika Mason has issued an on-air apology on the Today Show after her recent Winter Olympics crosses from Italy drew widespread online attention.
Appearing on the breakfast program on Thursday morning, the 34-year-old Channel Nine sports reporter apologised at the end of her live cross from Livigno, admitting she had been drinking the night before.
'And guys, just before we do go, I just want to take a moment if that's okay, just to apologise,' she began.
'I also wanted to say thank you for everyone who has reached out. I'm okay. Probably just a little bit embarrassed.
'Look, I totally misjudged a situation. I shouldn't have had a drink. And especially in these conditions, it's cold. We've got altitude. And not having had dinner probably didn't help as well.
'But I want to take full responsibility. It's not the standard that I set for myself.
Channel Nine sports reporter Danika Mason has issued an on-air apology on the Today Show after her recent Winter Olympics crosses from Italy drew widespread attention
'So in saying that, I am genuinely sorry.'
Danika went on to thank those who reached out out of concern, while Today Show host Karl Stefanovic – who famously made a drunken appearance on the program the morning after the 2009 Logies – praised his colleague for her hard work.
'I don't even know what you're talking about,' he said.
'You're the best, Danika. Don't worry about it. Let's move on.'
Danika's crosses to the Nine breakfast show on Wednesday sparked such an uproar on social media that Channel Nine eventually turned off the comments to its post.
She had featured in sport segments with Karl Stefanovic and Jayne Azzopardi while standing outside in a snowstorm at about 10pm local time.
At one point, Danika rambled about the price of coffee and responded to Karl likening her to a frozen iguana.
'The price of coffee over here is actually fine... it's actually the price of coffee in the US we have to get used to... I'm not sure about the iguanas? Where are we going with that one? Anyway, let's get into today's sport because there's plenty happening back home...'
Appearing on the breakfast program on Thursday morning, the 34-year-old Channel Nine sports reporter apologised at the end of her live cross from Livigno, admitting she had been drinking the night before
Danika's crosses to the Nine breakfast show on Wednesday sparked such an uproar on social media. She had featured in sport segments with Karl Stefanovic and Jayne Azzopardi while standing outside in a snowstorm at about 10pm local time
Viewers immediately noticed Danika appeared to slur her words and stumble over her sentences as she attempted to deliver the latest sports news, and made snow angels for the cameras.
She battled through the chilly conditions in Livigno as Karl and Jayne suggested the bitterly cold weather was making it difficult to speak, with the presenter visibly bracing against the harsh elements during the cross.
'There is such a cold wind, you can't actually move your lips,' Stefanovic claimed.
Social media users were quick to offer their own cheerful commentary about her segment with Nine's social media administrators eventually limiting the comments on their post.
'I think Danika is a bit under the weather,' one viewer wrote, while another added: 'A little under the weather I see, or hear?'
'Lol Karl, Sarah and Jane passing off Danika as being cold and it's difficult to speak. Most entertaining sports news for the year so far!' another joked.
Others said the segment had brightened their morning, with one user posting: 'Danika's sports reports this morning have literally made my day! Thanks Danni!'
TV insiders said Nine was now examining how the control room allowed the broadcast to proceed, with Mason appearing on air over a period of hours.
She battled through the chilly conditions in Livigno as Karl and Jayne suggested the bitterly cold weather was making it difficult to speak, with the presenter visibly bracing against the harsh elements during the cross
'Why did she keep getting let back on? It was clear early,' a source said.
The Daily Mail reached out to Nine for comment multiple times on Wednesday but did not receive a response.
Danika has been reporting on the Winter Olympics since the start of the month and has been amusing viewers with her fun crosses around the Olympic village.
The NRL sideline reporter announced her engagement to NRL star fiancé Liam Knight while on a romantic European holiday last year.
Sharing the exciting news to social media, Danika revealed Liam had proposed to her on a scenic Italian beach.
The pair went public with their romance in July 2024, just months after she ditched her ex-fiancé Todd Liubinskas.
Danika dumped Todd in September 2023, just three weeks before their planned wedding.
Daily Mail previously revealed Todd – a personal trainer – later asked Danika to give back her diamond engagement ring because it was a family heirloom.
Danika also kept the $1.5million Maroubra home she shared with her ex-fiancé, and later confirmed the couple split due to a 'breakdown in trust.'
English (US) ·