Danika Mason breaks silence on Winter Olympics live TV incident after admitting she drank before on-air slip

Channel Nine reporter Danika Mason has openly admitted she had alcohol before a live broadcast during the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics coverage. Viewers noticed something was off during Wednesday morning’s live cross when Mason appeared outside in freezing conditions. She struggled through parts of her report, mixed up a few lines, and made an unusual comment comparing her co-host to a “frozen iguana.” The moment quickly spread online, with many asking if she was okay.

A day later, Mason addressed the situation on air. She said she “totally misjudged the situation” and took full responsibility. She explained that drinking, combined with the cold weather, high altitude, and skipping dinner, affected her performance. Her employer, Channel Nine’s Today show, has not announced any disciplinary action.

Danika Mason responds after viral Winter Olympics moment as Karl Stefanovic and Jenny Azzopardi react

During the live segment, Mason appeared to lose her train of thought at times. At one point, she said, “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…”

The moment left her co-hosts trying to steady the broadcast. Karl Stefanovic suggested the harsh Italian winter conditions could have played a role.

He said, “You get out of a car over there and there is such a cold wind, you can’t actually move your lips.” Mason was seen laughing before the camera returned to the studio.



However, online viewers were not convinced. Some expressed concern. One social media user wrote, “I think Danika is a bit under the weather.” Another added, “If it’s not a health issue, she should be sacked on the spot-very unprofessional.”

The next day, Mason faced the issue directly. Speaking on air, she said, “I want to take full responsibility, it’s not the standard I set myself.”

She continued, “Look, I totally misjudged the situation. I shouldn’t have had a drink, especially in these conditions. It’s cold, we’ve got altitude, and not having had dinner probably didn’t help as well. I’m genuinely really sorry and I’m thanking everyone for those messages I’ve received as well.”

Jenny Azzopardi responded with support, saying, “We know how hard you work, Danika.”

Mason has been reporting from the Winter Olympics since the start of the month. For now, she says she is embarrassed but grateful for the concern shown by viewers.



Get the latest ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 updates, including the full schedule, teams, live scores, points table, and key series stats such as top run-scorers and wicket-takers.