KTLA reporter Rachel Menitoff has garnered widespread acclaim for her unflappable demeanor after a large flying cockroach landed on her during a live broadcast on Wednesday evening. The incident occurred while Menitoff was reporting on dangerous heat conditions in Sherman Oaks, California, for the Los Angeles station.
Cockroach Interrupts Live Shot
During the segment, a giant insect landed on Menitoff's neck and crawled across her body, eventually moving onto her microphone before flying off. Despite clearly feeling the bug, Menitoff continued her report without stopping or showing any sign of distress. After the broadcast ended, she was seen brushing off her shoulders and searching for the insect, as an off-camera voice asked, "How did you not move?"
Social Media Reactions
Menitoff later posted the video on Instagram with text overlay reading, "Yes, this is a flying cockroach," and captioned it, "Trying to steal my thunder." KTLA shared the clip on X, praising her professionalism with the caption, "SURPRISE LANDING. An insect crashed @KTLA reporter @RachelMenitoff’s live shot last night, and we must praise her professionalism. Who else could remain this cool!?"
Viewers and colleagues reacted with amazement. KTLA anchor Eric Spillman called it "terrifying." One X user wrote, "How she didn’t freak out despite being in camera is beyond me." Another added, "The way I would scream and cuss and yell and throw up and start a fire and run away hysterically crying … Kudos to this woman." A fellow reporter at Axios simply said, "Give this woman a promotion."
History of Animal Interruptions
Animal interruptions during live news are a well-known phenomenon. In 2020, CNN reporter Joe Johns fended off a raccoon on the White House lawn. In 2021, a Moscow correspondent had her microphone snatched by a dog during a weather report. In 2022, a Kenyan reporter was disrupted by an affectionate baby elephant. In 2019, a live interview in Kineta, Greece, was halted when a pig showed fondness for a male reporter. Menitoff's encounter, however, is considered less cute than these examples.
Responding to praise on her Instagram story, Menitoff wrote, "Trust me, it was NOT easy to keep my cool."
