An airing of The Bachelorette on a Michigan TV station was somewhat derailed after the TV station aired some election results--a good full week before election day.
Detroit station WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) accidentally aired mock election results during their broadcast on Tuesday night, which also showed Donald Trump beating Joe Biden by 6 points with 100% precincts reporting, even though Biden currently leads Trump by a significant margin in the region.
It also had a total electoral counter, showing Biden at 101 votes and Trump at 100, as well as showing two other key races in Michigan, including the Senate race and a key house race in Michigan's 8th district.
ABC station in Detroit accidentally airs election results during ‘The Bachelorette’, including Trump winning Michig… https://t.co/euLQzKJYOY— Mike Sington (@Mike Sington) 1603911744.0
@AndrewAffolter @chrisbohle @NilesGApol @JMilesColeman 1. This test is done every election (a KY paper posting ran… https://t.co/lrqQSq2IqC— (((Jerald Lentini))) (@(((Jerald Lentini)))) 1603896374.0
The results were aired as the result of an error testing out election night graphics.
Mike Murri, WXYZ-TV vice president and general manager, made a statement to the Detroit Free Press explaining the error:
"WXYZ inadvertently aired an election result graphic this evening as part of our testing of the systems we will use during election night coverage. The results displayed were randomly generated by that system. We apologize for any confusion. We have taken steps to ensure this will not happen again."
Why is Michigan calling the election for in favor of Trump A week ahead of time live on @ABC the #bachelorette! ev… https://t.co/98t6RZLo1h— Diana S 313 (@Diana S 313) 1603864722.0
@realDonaldTrump congrats, according to the banner last night on the local Detroit ABC station you already won Mich… https://t.co/4WVgxQbZSS— Kevin B (@Kevin B) 1603907331.0
(#Detroit) #abc Channel 7 a week before the #Elections2020 airs the results! How #corrupt we have to be to see th… https://t.co/DiJ0rijG50— Mr. Babba (آق بابا) (@Mr. Babba (آق بابا)) 1603909996.0
2020 Election Results a week early. Aired on (Detroit) abc channel 7... how accurate will they be? https://t.co/UGKYAah8kG— Sam Forsyth (@Sam Forsyth) 1603855988.0
In the teaser for The Bachelorette, host Chris Harrison says to Clare:
"You've just blown up 'The Bachelorette.'"
But it seems like WXYZ-TV may have taken care of that themselves.
@ABC Why are we seeing fake election results in Detroit ? This must be investigated and reported to the people . Hacking ? Who ?— Divided States of America (@Divided States of America) 1603895990.0
The real results will have to wait til Tuesday, November 3rd, if they are available by then.
Until then, the country will keep holding its breath.