News Anchor Breaks Silence After 'Terrible' Teleprompter Joke

Kentucky-based Wave 3 News anchor Maira Ansari is speaking out after unintentionally making insensitive jokes about an incredibly serious topic on-air.

The incident occurred during a PSA related to National Suicide Prevention Month, in which Ansari was supposed to be raising awareness of the suicide hotline number, 988. But thanks to some teleprompter tampering, Ansari didn't realize until it was too late that the script had been edited in very poor taste.

On Sept. 28, Ansari took to Twitter to address the "horrible" thing that happened during the Sept. 22 newscast.

"First, I want to personally apologize for those who were hurt, disturbed.. Concerned," she wrote. "If anyone knows me you will know that is [sic] the words that were read are not how I feel or think."

In footage of the broadcast uploaded to TikTok, after sharing information about the suicide hotline, Ansari became visibly confused as she read, “Now, talking about it, it doesn’t help. Suicide is always there as an option, but it's never the right solution to the problem."

She continued for another beat, "If you hit your breaking point, instead of just taking your life, do something one step short of it. Quit your job and move to China to become, uh, a rice…” trailing off as she realized how very wrong the script had gone. She immediately corrected, “Don’t quit your job,” and looked down to her notes, instead. “There are resources available. Talk to your loved ones and get help.”

"Suicide is not a joke," she emphasized in her statement, thanking those who had shown her support in the aftermath. "Mental health is something I am passionate about." As such, she "[tries to make the dialogue personal."

But, according to Ansari, one of her colleagues—a producer on the show—"intentionally wrote terrible things about suicide and made light of it." The anchor said she was "floored," as she "had no idea it was in the prompter." Naturally, she "wish[es] it never happened,"

She continued, "I'm also disturbed that I was set up like this by a co-worker. I want to thank my family, friends, team, viewers, strangers who have shown me that it will be okay. I know it...will. Time makes things better. I'm just sad about it all..disappointed."

Then, she took the opportunity to clarify what she was trying to say on air, adding,  "Please if you are struggling with suicide or negative thoughts...get help. There is no shame. Call 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline."