#PutYourBloopersOut: The Internet Teams Up to Save Daydreaming ABC Anchor From TV Ban

Yesterday, Australians rallied behind the realness of ABC News 24 anchor Natasha Exelby, who was caught daydreaming live on TV.

The object of her unshakable attention: the world’s most fascinating pen. The footage was spectacular.

Unfortunately, her employers didn’t see the funny and all-to-relatable side of Exelby’s blooper, reportedly banning her from all future on-air appearances.

A petition was started on change.org calling on the ABC to “reinstate” Natasha Exelby.

However, in a statement, an ABC spokesman simply said: “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.”

Her fellow journos, perhaps inspired by today’s Pulitzer Prize announcements, have decided to fight for Exelby, boldly admitting their own public mistakes under the hashtag #PutYourBloopersOut.

My dictaphone-holding, outstretched arm was shat on by a bird in the middle of a #ntpol press conference. #putyourbloopersout

— Helen Davidson (@heldavidson) April 11, 2017

The [high] heel of my boot snapped off during first week at @GuardianAus and I had to stay seated the rest of the day #PutYourBloopersOut

— Melissa Davey (@MelissaLDavey) April 11, 2017

I once instantly ruined an April Fools Day joke by stating on air "And now for an April Fools Day joke..." #PutYourBloopersOut

— Dan Ranson (@danranson_) April 10, 2017

When I captioned for the ABC, instead of:
"Penny Wong's lesbian partner"
I wrote:
"Penny Wong's lesbian PANTHER" #putyourbloopersout

— Patrick Lenton (@PatrickLenton) April 11, 2017

And then, the blooper to top them all.

#PutYourBloopersOut @NatashaExelby SBS News - Lee Lin Chin blooper: "Who is that handsome...?" https://t.co/ghXn9VJB3M

— Flick (@flick2001) April 10, 2017

The next episode of Media Watch should be spectacular.

Following the backlash, ABC director of news Gaven Morris emerged to reiterate that Exelby had not been given the sack.

"We take on-air standards extremely seriously, but we don't expect perfection," he said in a statement.

"No one would ever be punished for a blooper and, while it isn't appropriate to publicly discuss confidential details of people's personal work arrangements, this has not happened to Natasha."

Photo: ABC