On Sunday, an Australian newsreader missed her cue, panicked, and we were all able to relate to being caught off-guard.
Natasha Exelby, a freelance newsreader and producer at ABC24 went viral after the network cut back to her, while she was daydreaming.
The split second gaffe was quickly remedied and the show continued.
Despite this, rumours circulated that Exelby had been banned from future on air appearances.
An ABC spokesperson said in a statement:
Natasha Exelby is a casual contributor, not a staff member. She has been booked for occasional on-air shifts when needed, and also does other occasional shifts for the ABC News channel.
Contributors work out their shifts with managers on a per needs basis. Details of individuals’ shifts are confidential to them and not something the ABC publicly comments on.
The channel’s director of news, Gaven Morris, also issued a statement, affirming that Exelby had not been ‘banned’, ‘barred’ or ‘fired’…
While she is not currently doing any on-air shifts, this will be subject to normal performance management
Despite this, many of Exelby’s colleagues and fellow newscasters shared videos of their bloopers in solidarity with their comrade.
They used the hashtag #PutYourBloopersOut.
Presumably the end of that hashtag is "for the lads".
Here's some of the best skeletons hiding in TV presenters' respective closets.
Yep. It happens... @MarcFennell @NatashaExelby https://t.co/Ov79vpZRfn— Janice Petersen (@Janice Petersen) 1491734187
@NatashaExelby i'm glad my LITTLE thing wasnt on the ABC they would have had me castrated.#putyourbloopersout https://t.co/Noi7iZh20Y— Mark Aiston (@Mark Aiston) 1491829368
That time I didn't know the answer to @tmcmillan9's question. #putyourbloopersout https://t.co/Me2RARojjh— Michael Genovese (@Michael Genovese) 1491868155
One of the best. Stitching up #robcanning with @NatarshaBelling. #putyourbloopersout for @NatashaExelby https://t.co/0Uo7891jqr @byrnesh— Matt Doran (@Matt Doran) 1491821720
Nothing wrong with a bit of day dreaming at work @NatashaExelby . I fell asleep while on air. #putyourbloopersout https://t.co/10CE3Cqkph— Grant Denyer (@Grant Denyer) 1491866510
#PutYourBloopersOut @NatashaExelby SBS News - Lee Lin Chin blooper: "Who is that handsome...?" https://t.co/ghXn9VJB3M— Flick (@Flick) 1491823558
That time I nearly fell in the ocean because cross-bombers scared the bejeezus out of me.... #PutYourBloopersOut https://t.co/2WLVoxneCI— Jerrie Demasi (@Jerrie Demasi) 1491893859
It happens. These are mine. #PutYourBloopersOut #reporterlife https://t.co/KqQ1VrTQ0C— Yong Chavez (@Yong Chavez) 1491887130
On Monday Exelby tweeted her gratitude for the support.
Thank U all for ur generous support. Not my finest hour. Myself and my mesmerising pen honourably salute you!— Natasha Exelby (@Natasha Exelby) 1491797563