Diane Sawyer Was ‘Exhausted’ And Not Drunk During Election Night Performance
Diane Sawyer was suffering from ‘exhaustion’ while hosting last night’s marathon election special on ABC, according to network sources. The legendary TV anchor, 66, left many viewers asking if she had begun celebrating Tuesday’s election results a bit too early.
Taking the helm of ABC News’ coverage, the veteran journalist spoke more slowly than usual – while seeming to prop herself on outstretched arms at the anchor desk she shared with George Stephanopoulos.
Miss Sawyer’s behavior was met with concern soon after she went on air at the ABC studios in Times Square
‘OK,’ she said at one point around 10 p.m. EST, ‘I wanna — can we have our music, because this is another big one here?
‘Minnesota, we’re ready to project Minnesota, rrright now. … Well, tonight we know that President Barack has won Minnesota,’ she rambled on, stumbling over the president’s name.
Her name was soon trending with unflattering posts, while a new Twitter handle, Drunk Diane Sawyer, collected hundreds of followers.
‘A bit tipsy,’ ”hammered’ or ‘on pain killers, muscle relaxers, benzos or some combination’ were among the jeering explanations.
Singer Josh Groban tweeted: ‘I’ll have what Diane Sawyer is having,’ while Real Housewives of New Jersey star Dina Manzo – no stranger to controversy herself – added: ‘I want whatever Diane Sawyer is taking or drinking tonight.’
Another likened it to an episode of HBO’s drama ‘The Newsroom,’ where Will McAvoy, the fictitious anchorman, had eaten a couple of pot brownies before unexpectedly being summoned to his anchor desk to report a news story.
Some tweeters joked that a more fun-loving Sawyer was a ploy by ABC to boost viewership.
Miss Sawyer was on air until ABC’s broadcast ended around 2am following President Obama’s win and is now having a well-deserved sleep at the Manhattan home she shares with husband, director Mike Nicholls.
Ashton Tyler | Elite.
