‘Burtation’ Or Drunk on Air? Minnesota News Anchor’s Slurred Newscast Goes Viral
- Posted on December 8, 2011 at 8:32am by
Mike Opelka
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Annie Stensrud anchored the KEYC-TV newscast in Mankato Minnesota on Sunday night and her delivery has the Internet rumor mill working overtime.
Was this a case of on-air intoxication or did the news anchor experience a “burtation” like the one witnessed live on television last February?
“Today’s event featured Christmas fo… music food and a chance to meet the Santa dog… They felt three ways for Christmas…parents and grandparents.”
Watch the clip and decide for yourself: (The big-time slurring of speech hits after the weather at 1:25 and continues to the end of the break.)
KEYC’s managment has released a statement about the incident. From their website:
“Sunday night’s uncharacteristic newscast on KEYC Mankato can hardly be considered private. Nonetheless, in our judgment, the matter represents a personnel issue to be resolved internally.”
Dennis M. Wahlstrom, Vice President and General Manager, KEYC
Despite Wahlstrom’s request for privacy, the clip appears to be headed to viral status.
By the way, the clip does conjure up images of MSNBC host Al Sharpton’s curious on-air incident form August. However, no one questioned his sobriety:
For those wanting to compare Ms. Stensrud’s performance to the “Burtation” of Serene Branson, here is that moment (she was eventually found to have suffered from a sever migraine):
Do you think Stensrud was “overserved” or experienced a “burtation?”
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Comments (159)
citizennongrata
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 9:34amForgot her contacts….. could not see the TPOTUS clearly. Happens all the time when when you have to wing it :). ahh,dah,ummm and ahh,dah. Well you know.
Report Post »wolfinshdo
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 12:00pmWouldn’t that be “TOTUS”? not “TPOTUS”?
Report Post »retcop107
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 12:01pmShe had a stroke during the news cast. She wasn’t drunk.
retcop107
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 12:03pmShe had a stroke
Report Post »ILUVJESUS
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 12:26pmThe news services are reporting this event but as of yet, no one knows what happened to her. No one can say if she was drunk or had a stroke. Of course, she knows. There doesn’t seem to be a statement from her yet.
Report Post »Jim in Houston
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 1:04pmHer eyes did look a little glassy and blood shot, but she didn’t really sound drunk to me.
Report Post »motonutt
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 1:05pmAlcohol and or medications mixed. It doesn’t take much xanex or a like drug mixed with alcohol to cause her speach symtoms,
Report Post »I would guess that’s what happend.
Rogue
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 1:13pmSeems like when she started new segments, the first few words were strong and clear, but as she continued, she lost focus. not sober!
Report Post »deeberj
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 2:26pmretcop – where did you read she had a stroke? I can’t find anything anywhere. Stroke signs are weakness on one side, trouble walking, trouble seeing, trouble speaking. Being high are all the same except weakness on one side.
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 2:26pm.
Report Post »11:00 news.
What do you think newscasters do between 6:30 and 11:00?
Grab a bite, knock back a few.
chitown
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 6:15pmCan’t blame her for drinking after all she lives in Minnesota.
Report Post »Marci
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 7:11pmI watched some of her other videos and if she was having a “burtation” (ha!), I think she wouldn’t drag out almost every word. She could have just been extremely exhausted, maybe a sleepless night? However, she does sound drunk compared to her normal reporting. Something telling is the station saying they will handle it internally rather than stating she was suffering from something. Think someone gave her the test the minute they went to break??
Report Post »southernsense
Posted on December 9, 2011 at 8:39amI’m not a doctor but, what if she was stroking out? If not, why in the world would someone have a nice professional job like that and ruin it? Why do people do the things they do I guess…no rhyme or reason.
Report Post »pavepaws
Posted on December 9, 2011 at 2:01pmI’ll have what the lady is having.
Report Post »Epic Fail
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 9:31amShe read the prompter better than I would have completely sober.
Report Post »db321
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 11:15amYou can read and she is polluted.
Report Post »quiltgal
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 9:30amI think she got into the holiday spirits.
Report Post »salvawhoray
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 9:29ami’m not as think as you drunk I am.
Report Post »Rodster
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 9:26amYou can‘t can’t this woman to Al Sharpton because Al is an uneducated dumbass. :P
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 9:17amUnable to decide, not enough evidence either way.
Report Post »drmarkr
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 9:17amThis is more likely to be prescription drugs, than alcohol. Such a wonderful, drug-addicted society we’ve created? And “we” definitely includes all the enabling doctors…
“Got a problem? Take a pill!” Vicodin…or wait, better yet, Oxycontin for everyone!!
So, so disgusting. Makes me embarrassed to be a physician.
Report Post »AmazingGrace8
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 10:36amA co-worker started talking in a similar way, and later, after she left the room, someone found her in the women’s bathroom in diabetic shock…..She never revealed to anyone about her health issue.
Report Post »your sensei
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 10:43am“OXY! OXY . . . huffa huffa huffa huffa . . . Did somebody say OXY? . .. huffa huffa . . . I’m in. I just went through 8,000 pills in the last two months so I’m out . .I mean I’m in. I want some. I’m in . . . huffa huffa huffa . . . Oxy! . . .huffa huffa . . . OXY! . .. huffa . . .OXYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!”
- Rush
Walkabout
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 12:07pmyour sensei
I don’t hold against people when the doctor gives them pain pills & they like them a lot. I have seen it 1st hand. It is not like many people plan to go there. They get there & it is hard to get out. I really doubt that Rush is on pain pills now. I know that because I have Rush figured out & know what makes him tick. That & the feds a cracking down more effectively every day on it.
I read a book by a leftist about Rush in the mid 90s. It was descriptive & informative in the 1st third & an absolute screeeeeeeeeeeeeeed by the last 3rd. I never made it all the way to the end. It is the only book I have read on Rush. It didn’t make me quit listening to him & neither will you. I have listened to him since 1991. That is the same time that I gave up NPR
P.S. Please do us all a favor & contact the producer of “Extreme Makeover”
Report Post »deeberj
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 2:06pmyou’re senseless – Oh crap, you are back! It’s been nice here without you.
Report Post »shamanal
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 5:16pmI pop oxy’s like candy and have for years to manage pain – and never got this way. (And oxy‘s don’t work for pain in my case.)
Report Post »addie
Posted on December 9, 2011 at 1:00am@Amazing, I’m with you. That is exactly what I was thinking. She wasn’t drunk. She was confusing, skipping words and not finishing words (like saying “food shelt” not slurring “shhhheeellltttttteeeerrrr”) The only thing I can think of that can give similar “drunkiness” look is someone going into a diabetic shock. It wouldn‘t be a stroke because her mouth would have changed and one half of her body slumping and oftentimes they can’t talk. Strokes are horrible to witness, well strokes and seizures I suppose.
In any case, I hope she recovers soon, even if it turns out being alcohol.
Report Post »KAdams
Posted on December 9, 2011 at 2:48pm@Addie
It all depends on where the stroke occurs, and the intensity of it. Not everyone suffers from partial paralysis. If it occurred only in her speech center, then it’s possible only her speech was affected.
Report Post »Vixvenom
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 9:15amPainkillers….half the country is hooked on them….tongue is as thick as a ham….not uncommon these days….pain management they call it……greed and evil I call it….NOTW
Report Post »sgtstubbs
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 12:24pmMy brother was crushed by a crane, take about 120 mg a day. He has no problem talking and said that he get no high off them.. Pain mgmt is the only way to go or a Pain pump implant. So find a way for those who needs the meds to have a better way of life.
Report Post »DarthMims
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 9:12amHer voice is crackling like she has a sore throat or has been coughing. Cold medicine reaction?
Report Post »deeberj
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 2:09pmHoarse throat is a sign of opiate use.
Report Post »cranberry
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 9:05amWell all i can say is if this is even remotely like a normal news night for her, there’s no way i could watch. She sounds like she doesn’t care to be there, no enthusiasm for the job.. boring
Report Post »Anti_Spock
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 9:20amThis is brutal. KEYC-TV should change over to KEGS-TV.
Report Post »GeneTracy
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 10:01amI agree with you Cranberry.Not exactly a riveting performance.
Report Post »PATRIOTGRUNT
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 9:05amToo much of liquid lunch . Not as bad as the racist Rev.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 9:04am.
Report Post »I ain’t drunk, I’m just drinking………….
PheonixDragon
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 2:36pmHave a problem with drinking? I don’t. I drink. I get drunk. I fall down. No Problem.
Report Post »raybojabo
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 9:04amAh dunno, but I‘d give a doller ta see more o’ dose hooters. (hic)
Report Post »mcFirst
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 9:03amShe is like 3 drinked sauced. Not 1 not 2 but 3.
It seems she probably has 1 or 2 before other shows tonight just a bit too much.
Report Post »mom4times
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 8:57amSince i’ve never seen the anchorwoman before now….it may be hard to really determine….but I would bet that she might be a little punch drunk. With that being said, if she is then it’s obvious that she needs help and she needs our prayers to get through this. If she is not drunk then….again…..she needs help because she must have some medical condition that is affecting her neuro functions.
Report Post »The Tin Man
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 8:56amWhy is this “a big deal”?
No news casters or journalists are allowed to tell the truth any more. So, they get pickled before going on the “news”. They only read what they are allowed to say and not report real news. To report the carp they report; I would have to pickle myself too. I don’t see where it degrades the BS they say; in fact it makes it more acceptable to hear. They should have a disclaimer, “You need to be drunk to listen to or believe this carp”.
Read what we allow or “you’re fired”.
Hum; did I just bring Trumped into this comment?
Report Post »Exrepublisheep
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 9:17amlol
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 9:20am(chuckle)
carp = wild goldfish
crap = worthless stuff
Report Post »searching for the Truth
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 8:56amGlobal Warming lip freeze.
Report Post »Ironeagle
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 8:55amShapton is a race-bating, ignorant thug.
Report Post »Rob Adkerson
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 9:30amlol, I thought to myself, “every time he‘s on the air it’s an ‘on air’ flub.”
Report Post »PATRIOTMAMA
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 8:53amI think that they‘re being forced to constantly lie and cover for the Presidents’ and the left‘s agenda is finally getting to all the anchors and either God is giving them something to shut them down or they’re taking to the bottle because of the lie that they’re delivering to the country. I honestly can’t decide which at this point. Hey, it might be a combination of both. The mainstream media is complicit in the nations downfall and they’re being used as stooges and that their jobs are meaningless and turn to the bottle. Not hard to figure out.
Report Post »slightlymperfect
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 8:52amHilarious, when she starts talking again after the clips its all fast and loud, then gradually it gets slower and quieter, lol. We have had problems with alcoholic local news anchors where I live, too. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WE RELY ON FOR INFORMATION!?!? I would shake my head and chuckle, but she probably drove home after.
Report Post »RichNGadsden
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 8:51amLOL, that just became more painful the deeper she got into her broadcast. Seems to me that station management would have been on the horn to her director right away. She should have been replaced during the weather.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 8:51amShe should be fired…for being fugly.
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 8:46am“But resist, we much… we must… and we will much… about… that… be committed.”
Report Post »fobama
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 8:45ami were wachin, and hiccup, found it flounder…
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 8:39amNope, she is good ole fashion sauced !!!
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 8:52amI know I’m putting the chariot before the horse , but this chic’s half in the bag.
Report Post »Welcome Black Carter
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 9:52amIn a later interveiw she stated ” Look, I’m not as think as you drunk I am”
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