Eagle-eyed Sky News viewers spot X-rated word behind presenter

15 August 2023 , 11:45

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Eagle-eyed Sky News viewers spot X-rated word behind presenter

Sky News viewers were left shocked on Monday afternoon, after a naughty word accidentally aired on yesterday's programming.

The awkward blunder happened during Kimberly Leonard's Sky News at One show as she delivered a report on the 'frightening rise' in cars being driven on the wrong side of the road on England's motorways.

After switching pages on her tablet, which is being broadcast on a large screen in the background, the TV presenter is asked to 'accept' its cookie options and quips that she trusts the official site of her workplace to be safe. It's at this point that a large banner for the "Sh!t-Faced Shakespeare" theatre production pops up above a digital article, before Leonard swiftly swipes to return to the site's homepage. Despite its short duration of time the advert was on screen, it quickly gained traction online.

The offensive word popped up when Kimberly Leonard was presenting the news (Sky News)

"Maybe don't show your website on telly at lunchtime, if you've accepted "Sh!t-Faced Shakespeare" as an advertiser," one person tweeted, before noting that the Leicester Square production will likely welcome the unexpected promotion. "They will be delighted though. Instant viral."

Another person wrote, "Glorious," before wishing the play the best of luck. "Definitely worth paying for that web advert."

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The Sh!t-faced Shakespeare's official Twitter account responded to their sudden TV cameo, thanking Leonard for the free press before joking, "Tickets at the door and cheque in the post."

While some folks appeared to see the pop-up as a major blunder, others noted that the incorrect spelling of the word lessened its chances of offending audiences. "It's OK, the i was actually a !, so it doesn't count as swearing," one person commented.

Just hours later, Sky Sports News had to apologise for a separate cursing incident when one of its reporters let slip an X-rated word during a football commentary. Speaking about Manchester United's offloading of David de Gea and signing of Onana, Melissa Reddy accidentally used an offensive adjective when describing the Cameroonian's style.

"He feels that in Onana, he has signed a big personality," she said to the camera. "We've already seen glimpses of that. Him b******ing his defenders when they've made a mistake."

Reddy's co-presenter Vicky Gomersall jumped in immediately after the segment had wrapped to address the slip-up, taking a moment to apologize "to anyone if they were offended by the use of your language there."

Emma Dooney