News anchors and TV presenters are bound to make mistakes from time to time—they’re only human, after all.
But when newsreader Natasha Exelby was caught off guard during a live broadcast, the fallout was far more severe than anyone anticipated.
An Unexpected On-Air Slip-Up
Natasha Exelby never imagined she would become an overnight viral sensation—but one moment of distraction during a live news broadcast changed everything for the Australian journalist.
It happened on a late Saturday night in 2017, during ABC’s 11:30 p.m. bulletin. As the cameras unexpectedly cut back to her, Natasha was completely caught off guard, engaged in a moment that most of us have had at some point—just not on live television.
Her stunned expression lasted only a second, but that was all it took. The clip spread rapidly across social media, making her an instant internet sensation.
However, while the online world found the mishap amusing, ABC executives were far less entertained.
So what exactly did she do that led her bosses to essentially take her off the air?
During the live broadcast, Natasha was caught daydreaming and absentmindedly playing with an object right as she was about to go on air.
“I had a lot on my mind at the time, and then it happened so fast. I was sitting next to the sports presenter, Meredith Sheehan, whom I had never met before but seemed like a lovely person. After the slip-up, I felt sick, and Meredith just said, ‘It’s a Saturday night, don’t worry, no one will be watching.’ But I thought to myself, ‘It only takes one.’”
Behind-the-Scenes Fallout
The reaction behind the scenes was swift, and the consequences for Exelby were significant.
Speaking to news.com.au, the Queensland-born journalist admitted she had no idea how quickly the clip would spread. “I turned my phone off because it was going crazy,” she shared, adding that she tends to avoid reading stories about herself because they often lead to “chocolate binges.”
Rumors quickly swirled that Natasha had been fired over the incident, sparking an outpouring of support from fellow journalists, TV hosts, politicians, and entertainers. On social media, the hashtag #putyourbloopersout gained traction as people rallied behind her.
However, ABC News director Gaven Morris dismissed reports of her being fired, calling them “untrue.” He clarified that Natasha was a freelance journalist and, as such, wasn’t scheduled for additional on-air shifts at the time.
“Media reports claiming Natasha has been ‘banned,’ ‘barred,’ or ‘fired’ are false. She is a freelance contributor who has been assigned various shifts and has been reassured that we want that to continue. While she is not currently on-air, her status will be subject to normal performance management,” he stated.
Years later, Exelby appeared as a contestant on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and opened up about the aftermath of her viral moment, revealing just how much her life changed because of that split-second mistake.
“They (ABC) took me off the air; they said I couldn’t go back on,” she revealed, adding that her next six weeks of scheduled on-air shifts were “cut out” and she was instead offered producing roles.
Looking back, the clip might seem harmless now, but at the time, the fallout had a significant impact on her.
“I was really embarrassed by what happened,” she admitted.
A Career Filled with Controversies
Natasha Exelby has had her share of controversies, with multiple incidents drawing media attention throughout her career.
One of the most serious occurred on June 26, 2023, when she was caught driving under the influence after crashing her car in Melbourne. When police arrived at the scene on Orrong Rd, a breath test revealed her blood alcohol level was .220—four times the legal limit. At the time, she claimed she had only consumed “two seltzers” earlier in the day.
Natasha Exelby Today
But this wasn’t the first time Exelby had made headlines for her behavior.
Back in 2013, another viral moment unfolded during her time on Ten Eyewitness News Late. While delivering serious news stories, she began giggling uncontrollably, which sparked backlash. She later apologized, and Network Ten labeled her actions “totally unacceptable.”
A few months later, she was selected as one of the original hosts for Network Ten’s breakfast show Wake Up, alongside Natarsha Belling and James Mathison. However, the program struggled from the start, and Exelby was dropped after just three weeks. To make matters worse, she later revealed that she was informed of her firing in a parking lot—just 45 minutes before it was publicly announced.
Despite these setbacks, Natasha Exelby remains active in journalism. In February 2023, she resigned from Network 10 but continues to contribute as a freelance journalist, occasionally filling in on Studio 10. She has also made a name for herself as a Political Correspondent in the Canberra Press Gallery, having interviewed every Australian Prime Minister since Bob Hawke.
Natasha Exelby’s infamous blooper may have made her an internet sensation, but it also sparked a larger conversation about the pressures of live television, the scrutiny public figures endure, and the fine line between human error and career-defining moments.
While some argue that everyone deserves a second chance, others question whether mistakes like these should have long-term consequences.
What do you think? Is it just part of the job, or should broadcasters be more forgiving when it comes to on-air slip-ups?