TV presenter fired after leaving coffee cup on news desk while presenting show
A veteran TV news presenter in Turkey has been fired from her news station after appearing on camera with her Starbucks coffee cup on show.
Meltem Günay, 45, who is a newsreader with TGRT Haber, was seen presenting the news on Christmas Eve with a cup from the American multi-national chain. But her seemingly innocent mistake caused outrage by viewers who claimed she was endorsing the American company, which is currently being boycotted by pro-Palestinian activists due to the company's alleged support for the Israeli Government. Following the broadcast on Sunday, the presenter along with her director were sacked by the broadcast bosses.
Turkish news presenter sacked for leaving Starbucks coffee cup on show (TGRT HABER)The Istanbul media corporation released a statement explaining its decision. It read that the presenter and the director were terminated for "covertly advertising" the company, which is banned by the broadcaster’s "principles." It went on to say that the company "strongly condemns" their actions and said TGRT had an "understanding that knows the sensitivities of the Turkish people regarding Gaza and defends them to the end."
A spokesperson for the news station wrote on X and repeated by the New York Post: "In the news broadcast of TGRT Haber TV dated 24.12.2023, Meltem Günay, who was an announcer, was seen presenting the news with a Starbucks cup in front of her. In accordance with the principles of our institution, it is strictly forbidden for the announcer to present on TGRT News TV in a way that will covertly advertise any company."
They added: "The news anchor and director who acted contrary to this principle were terminated for just cause. Our institution has an understanding that knows the sensitivities of the Turkish people regarding Gaza and defends them to the end. It is absolutely impossible to approve any action or publication contrary to this. We do not approve of this action of the presenter and director, whose employment contracts were terminated, and we strongly condemn it. For this reason, their employment contracts were terminated."
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Viewers were outraged by seeing the Starbucks coffee cup (TGRT HABER)It went on to say that, from "now on", the broadcaster would "continue to stand by the Gaza and Turkish people and protect their sensitivities until the end." Over recent weeks, presenters on news channels have been exposed for carrying out huge blunders which have been picked up by viewers.
Earlier this month BBC news anchor Maryam Moshiri was caught swearing on TV unaware that she was broadcasting live. Maryam, who was presenting the morning programme, was in the middle of sharing a joke with colleagues. In the clip, Maryam is seen using her fingers to count down from 10 to zero until she went live, mimicking the director.
When she got to number one, the presenter is seen tilting her head while showing the middle finger to the camera. And within seconds, her once happy go lucky demeanor soon turned serious as she kick-started her news intro saying: "Live from London, this is BBC News," before reading out the rest of the headlines for the programme.
Apologising to fans, she took to social media and wrote:"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 we got to 1 I turned finger around as a joke and did not realise that this would be caught on camera."
She added: "It was a private joke with the team and I’m so sorry it went out on air! It was not my intention for this to happen and I’m sorry if I offended or upset anyone. I wasn’t ‘ 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."
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