Viewers of Channel Seven's Sunrise programme were given a rude awakening on Thursday morning after a New Year's Eve reveller unleashed an expletive during a live broadcast from Sydney's Bondi Beach.
Chaotic Scene on Bondi Beach
Reporter Katie Brown was on the famous sands in the aftermath of Wednesday night's celebrations, speaking to stragglers who had yet to call it a night. Katie noted that some had begun their new year with a swim, possibly to soothe sore heads from the festivities. Engaging with a small crowd, she asked who was still partying and who had been home.
One enthusiastic man in a white collared shirt signalled he was still very much in the party spirit. As Katie donned a pair of star-shaped glasses, Sunrise host David Woiwod, back in the studio, expressed interest in the reveller.
The Live Broadcast Blunder
"Hey Katie, there's a bloke there in a white collared shirt... I want to know about him. Has he pushed through?" David asked. Katie identified the man as being from Brazil and confirmed he had not slept. The excited reveller, visibly worse for wear but thrilled to be on television, then demonstrated the perils of live broadcasting.
"I have not, and I f***ing love..." he declared, before being swiftly cut off by a flustered Katie Brown. "Remember when we said no?" she interjected. The man sheepishly corrected himself, repeating, "I love it, I love it."
Studio Reaction and Broader New Year Context
In the studio, David Woiwod accepted responsibility for the sweary exchange, while co-host Edwina Bartholomew expressed her shock. "I did not see that coming. That will get you waking up," she said, before chastising David for engaging with the inebriated guest.
The man was one of more than a million people who flocked to Sydney Harbour and its surrounds for the iconic New Year's Eve celebrations. The event featured a significant tribute to victims of the Bondi attack, contrasting with the midnight fireworks display, and was policed by thousands of officers.
Meanwhile, the ABC's coverage of the festivities drew criticism from some viewers at home, particularly for a segment featuring Play School stars performing close to 10pm, which many found ill-timed for the audience.
