Sarah Murdoch, the supermodel daughter-in-law of media baron Rupert Murdoch, announces the wrong winner of Australia’s next Top Model in an error dubbed the country’s “most awkward TV moment”.
Host Sarah Murdoch was left close to tears after realising she had wrongly announced the winner during the live final of the Foxtel TV series.
To cheers of the 2,000 strong live audience Ms Murdoch incorrectly announced 19-year-old Kelsey Martinovich as the winner.
Miss Martinovich had completed her acceptance speech before Ms Murdoch backtracked on stage to reveal the real winner from the public vote was 18-year-old rival Amanda Ware.
“I don’t know what to say right now. I’m feeling a bit sick about this,” Murdoch said.
“I’m so sorry. Oh my God, I don’t know what to say. This is what happens when you have live TV folks, this is insane, insane, insane.”
Video of the gaff has since spread across the internet and was dubbed Australia’s most awkward TV moment by the press.
Foxtel is owned by Australian phone company Telstra, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp and Consolidated Media Holdings. Foxtel publicity director Jamie Campbell on Wednesday blamed a miscommunication between series directors in a broadcasting truck control room and Murdoch on stage.
Series judge and fashion designer Alex Perry told Sydney radio that Murdoch had made a genuine mistake, denying accusations in media reports that the bizarre mix-up was a last minute publicity stunt for more ratings.