BBC News anchor Maryam Moshiri flipped the bird during a live telecast on Wednesday, attributing the crude gesture to a private joke with staff that accidentally went public. (Watch the video below.)
The BBCs countdown intro cut to Moshiri raising her middle finger at the camera with a comical expression. She quickly withdrew her hand and announced in a serious tone, Live from London, this is BBC News.
This isnt satire, an actual BBC News presenter got caught giving the middle finger live.
Maryam Moshiri summing up the professionalism currently at the BBC. pic.twitter.com/QoJ4FT133J
This isnt satire, an actual BBC News presenter got caught giving the middle finger live.
Chris Rose (@ArchRose90) December 7, 2023
Maryam Moshiri summing up the professionalism currently at the BBC. pic.twitter.com/QoJ4FT133J
Moshiri said later the viral moment was unintentional and apologized on X (ne Twitter).
She explained that as the director was counting down, she followed along with her fingers and left her middle digit up as a joke for staff when the director hit one. Only she didnt realize the move was caught on camera.
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It was a private joke with the team and Im so sorry it went out on air! she wrote. It was not my intention for this to happen and Im sorry if I offended or upset anyone. I wasnt flipping the bird at viewers or even a person really. It was a silly joke that was meant for a small number of my mates.
Hey everyone , yesterday just before the top of the hour I was joking around a bit with the team in the gallery.
I was pretending to count down as the director was counting me down from 10-0.. including the fingers to show the number. So from 10 fingers held up to one.
When
Hey everyone , yesterday just before the top of the hour I was joking around a bit with the team in the gallery.
Maryam Moshiri (@BBCMaryam) December 7, 2023
I was pretending to count down as the director was counting me down from 10-0.. including the fingers to show the number. So from 10 fingers held up to one.
When
A wayward raised digit has compromised the news before .
Pro tip for reporters: Try to keep your finger on the pulse of current events, not thrust upward for viewers to see.
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