One little syllable can make a world of difference. NY-1 anchor Pat Kiernan made that laughably clear recently when he accidentally told the world that Trump's staff was using illicit drugs.
After press secretary Kayleigh McEnany announced she had also contracted the viral pathogen behind the global pandemic (along with Trump, Melania, Stephen Miller, etc...) it was Kiernan's job to report it to his viewers. Unfortunately, his sentence sort of got away from him at the end there and what he actually said was something a little different than intended.
@patkiernan Of course they are on cocaine 😭😭😭 My favorite news anchor https://t.co/U8GxUaCLx0— Zendelle Adriel ☄️🥵 (@Zendelle Adriel ☄️🥵)1601913918.0
Rather than report that McEnany had CO-VID he said:
"Another member of Donald Trump's inner circle testing positive for cocaine."
Season 7 Oops GIF by Workaholics
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CO-VID, co-caine, easy mistake to make, right?
Kiernan—ever the professional—corrected himself immediately and continued on to accurately report Kayleigh McEnany was sick along with Donald Trump and several members of his close staff, political allies and family. He even corrected himself on Twitter.
Because of course Twitter noticed.
@StevieTweets20 Yes. COVID. There's enough going on without adding another dimension. Apologies for the error.— Pat Kiernan (@Pat Kiernan)1601913719.0
That one little syllable right at the end of his sentence entirely changed the meaning. It appears to have been an innocent slip of the tongue—the man's career is quite extensive and he has reported on a lot of positive drug tests, after all.
While the gaffe may have been totally meaningless, it provided nearly endless entertainment for folks on social media.
Describing @kayleighmcenany contracting the Trump virus. But, who’s keeping track? Cocaine, Covid. Tomato, Tomaaato… https://t.co/5lsovHgzH3— Rose Paris (@Rose Paris)1602046403.0
I guess they are having a COVID cocaine party in the White House rn. https://t.co/Esx96wK5uG— Grant the Course Creator (@Grant the Course Creator)1602002994.0
Yall see pat kiernan accidentally announce that a White House member tested positive for cocaine instead of covid live on the news lmfao— BLM (@BLM)1602002652.0
@patkiernan Of course they are on cocaine 😭😭😭 My favorite news anchor https://t.co/U8GxUaCLx0— Zendelle Adriel ☄️🥵 (@Zendelle Adriel ☄️🥵)1601913918.0
He corrected himself but that was absolutely hilarious— ashley 🧚🏾♀️ (@ashley 🧚🏾♀️)1601913556.0
@realDonaldTrump TRUE STORY! Everyone knows @DonaldJTrumpJr is dealing in the white house. He has direct access t… https://t.co/ZIXNBdeAkt— Fonald Plump (@Fonald Plump)1602009242.0
Haha! They probably are testing positive for both. At least it wouldn't surprise many! - Pat Kiernan flubs line, sa… https://t.co/qxuc4ST7cG— Faith Alfred (@Faith Alfred)1602010041.0
Omg this guy said Kayleigh McEnany is the latest Trump person to test positive for cocaine. Hilarious! https://t.co/Vf0zCshdUC— Obsessed with Justice ⚖️ (@Obsessed with Justice ⚖️)1602000877.0
@Reality46886292 / Twitter
Our journalistic condolences to you, Pat Kiernan. These sorts of flubs happen to us all.
Thankfully, we have editors and spell checks and all sorts of other tools to keep us from accidentally telling the world that the White House has a rampant cocaine issue. You're out there in the wilds of live broadcasting.
You have our sympathies and our collective LOL's.