Viewers are praising US journalist Vanessa Welch for her professionalism after she swallowed a fly while on air. Welch was reporting for Boston25 when a fly landed on her face near her eye. As she continued speaking, the insect fell into her mouth and she appeared to swallow it. Welch’s nonchalance in the face of the incident drew praise from social media. “That is professionalism right there,” wrote one Instagram user, while another suggested she “needs a raise” for the way she dealt with the mishap.
The incident led to speculation about what had actually been consumed, with some hoping against all evidence that it was Welch’s false eyelashes that had fallen into her mouth. Back in 2014, UK reporter Adam Boulton accidentally swallowed an insect during a live broadcast from Downing Street, as he reported on a government reshuffle. Asked by a colleague if he wanted to “take a pause”, Boulton responded that he had “swallowed a fly, that’s alright – I’ve recovered now”, before continuing with his report.
Insects regularly appear in news broadcasts and can cause distractions for presenters, even when they aren’t swallowed. A recent viral video from Nigeria saw a journalist reporting in front of a swarm of mosquitoes, while in 2015 Fox News anchor Shannon Bream fled a swarm of cicadas on live television.
Despite the potential for bugs to disrupt broadcasts, the incidents offer a glimpse of presenters’ ability to handle unexpected events live on air. For Welch and Boulton, their calm responses to the accidents have won them plaudits from viewers, with many praising their professionalism and composure under pressure
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