Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is one of many people who have publicly supported Danika Mason after she revealed she had a drink before appearing live on the Today show this week.
The Channel Nine sports reporter, age 34, apologized on live television Thursday morning after her reports from the Winter Olympics in Italy received a lot of public attention.
On Thursday morning, Prime Minister Albanese told Nova 100’s Jase & Lauren that he sympathized with Danika, who seemed to have difficulty speaking clearly during Wednesday’s show.
He expressed his support for Danika, acknowledging she’s currently in Italy and likely exhausted. He shared this with radio hosts Jase Hawkins and Lauren Phillips.
‘It’s the time difference would have been having an impact.’
Jase added, ‘She’s celebrating!’ while Mr Albanese replied, ‘Nothing to see here.’
Viewers have also taken to social media in support of the journalist following the on-air mishap.
I was so impressed! She really took charge and handled everything with confidence. She’s a fantastic presenter and reporter, honestly.
‘Good on her for being an Aussie and having a drink,’ said another.
It’s refreshing to remember that Karl often started the morning show feeling unwell and a bit rough – it just shows he was a real person.
Someone else commented, saying she did really well and everyone enjoyed celebrating their success. They added that mistakes happen, it’s no big deal, and offered a cheerful ‘Cheers!’
Fans flooded social media with praise, calling her a legend and even suggesting she could become Prime Minister or be named Australian of the Year.
One fan described this as typical Aussie culture – hardworking, fun-loving, and always respectful. They said a true Australian’s first reaction would be to offer encouragement and show appreciation, saying it’s ‘beautiful.’
Danika apologized during her live report from Livigno on Thursday morning, explaining that she had been drinking the previous night.
She started by saying, “I just want to quickly apologize if you don’t mind.”
I also want to thank everyone for their kind messages. I’m doing alright, just a little embarrassed.
I really messed up earlier. I shouldn’t have been drinking, especially given the cold and the high altitude. I also probably should have eaten something beforehand.
‘But I want to take full responsibility. It’s not the standard that I set for myself.
‘So in saying that, I am genuinely sorry.’
Danika expressed her gratitude to those who reached out with concern. Karl Stefanovic, a host on Today, known for a memorable appearance on the show after the 2009 Logies awards, also commended his coworker for her dedication.
‘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 appearance on the ‘Nine’ breakfast show on Wednesday caused a huge reaction on social media, leading Channel Nine to disable comments on their related post.
She reported live from a snowstorm around 10 p.m., appearing on sports segments with Karl Stefanovic and Jayne Azzopardi.
Danika suddenly started talking about coffee prices, and surprisingly, she reacted to Karl comparing her to a frozen iguana.
Coffee prices here are reasonable, but we’re still adjusting to how expensive it is back in the US. I’m a little confused about the iguanas, though – I’m not sure what that’s about. Let’s move on to the sports news now, because there’s a lot going on back home.
Viewers quickly noticed Danika was having trouble speaking clearly – she slurred her words and stumbled while reading the sports news, and even playfully made snow angels for the cameras.
The cold weather in Livigno made it tough for the presenter to speak, as Karl and Jayne pointed out. She clearly struggled against the harsh conditions while broadcasting live.
‘There is such a cold wind, you can’t actually move your lips,’ Stefanovic claimed.
People on social media immediately reacted to the segment, and Nine’s team ended up restricting comments on their post due to the volume of responses.
One viewer noticed Danika didn’t seem to be feeling well, and another wondered if she was also sounding unwell.
Someone jokingly commented on social media about Karl, Sarah, and Jane pretending Danika was being unfriendly and hard to understand. They called it the most amusing sports news they’d seen all year.
People shared that the segment had improved their morning, and one viewer even wrote, ‘Danika’s sports reports really made my day! Thanks, Danika!’
Sources at Nine are investigating how the broadcast team allowed the segment with Mason to continue for several hours, and are reviewing the control room’s procedures.
‘Why did she keep getting let back on? It was clear early,’ a source said.
The Daily Mail reached out to Nine for comment on Wednesday but did not receive a response.
Danika has been covering the Winter Olympics for the past few weeks, and her lively reports from around the Olympic village have been entertaining audiences.
Last year, while on a European vacation, NRL sideline reporter announced she’s engaged to NRL player Liam Knight.
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Danika announced on social media that Liam proposed to her during a romantic trip to a beach in Italy.
They began dating publicly in July 2024, shortly after she ended her engagement to Todd Liubinskas.
Danika dumped Todd in September 2023, just three weeks before their planned wedding.
The Daily Mail reported that Todd, a personal trainer, later asked Danika to return the diamond engagement ring, explaining it was a family heirloom.
I was really surprised to learn Danika got to keep the beautiful Maroubra home she and her fiancé shared. It’s sad, but she later explained they broke up because they just lost trust in each other, which is always heartbreaking to hear.
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2026-02-19 02:49