Australian news presenter Natasha Exelby was presenting an evening bulletin when she found herself completely unaware she was back live on air. Source: ABC News 24
Natasha Exelby's hilarious on-air blooper might have made headlines worldwide, but it didn't save her job at the ABC.
The newsreader was caught playing with a pen on ABC News 24 and nearly jumped out of her chair when she momentarily failed to realise she was on-air.
While most foundit hilarious, and plenty of journalists sympathised with the presenter, ABC definitely didn't and swiftly took her off newsreading duties, instead giving her producer shifts.
The public broadcaster, faced huge backlash over their decision to bench Exelby, however counteracted that with a statement in April, insisting her lack of newsreader shifts had nothing to do with the blooper.
"Media reports that Natasha has been 'banned', 'barred' or 'fired' are untrue. Natasha is a freelance journalist who works as a contributor," a statement by news director Gaven Morris read.
"She has been rostered for various shifts and has been assured since yesterday that we want that to continue. While she is not currently doing any on-air shifts, this will be subject to normal performance management. I have spoken to Natasha and conveyed our regret that this has attracted such attention."
And, despite the ABC claiming "no one would ever be punished for a blooper", Exelby has slammed the broadcaster in a new interview with The Sunday Telegraph.
"Even though they (the ABC) didn't do the right thing by me I wanted to do the right thing by them," Exelby said, when asked why she kept silent throughout the ordeal.
Exelby has since left the broadcaster. Photo / Supplied
The veteran newsreader also slammed those who doubted the blooper was even real or was orchestrated for publicity.
"If that was the case I think some people give me way too much credit ... and I should have been an actor," she said.
An ABC spokesman confirmed to News Corp this week that Exelby had left the broadcaster.
"Natasha Exelby has chosen not to do some casual shifts she was rostered for.
"Natasha was not taken off-air because of a "blooper" and ABC News has been clear that we're open to working with her again, including the possibility of future presenting shifts."
According to The Sunday Telegraph, since leaving the network, Exelby is now appropriately working in crisis management and consultancy for her company XLB Media.
