BBC News presenter Maryam Moshiri was caught giving the middle finger to the camera in an on-air gaffe that she says was a “private joke” gone wrong.
Maryam Moshiri was momentarily seen with a raised finger as BBC News switched to the studio for the headlines. Realizing her error had been caught on camera, she quickly returned to a traditional news anchor stance and told viewers: “Live from London, this is BBC News.”
The error has been clipped up by various Twitter (now X) accounts and has been going viral on the social media site, prompting Moshiri to issue an explanation and apology.
The presenter said she was sharing a private joke with her friends in the gallery, which involved counting down with her fingers and ending with a potentially offensive gesture.
“It was not my intention for this to happen and I’m sorry if I offended or upset anyone. I wasn’t ‘ flipping the bird’ at viewers or even a person really,” she said.
Maryam Moshiri is one of the BBC News channel’s chief presenters after being promoted in February. She has worked for the British broadcaster for more than 20 years.