A television news reporter said she was feeling fine Monday after she lapsed into an incomprehensible stream of gibberish during a live report outside the Grammy Awards, according to her station.

Serene Branson was examined by paramedics immediately after her broadcast, but her vital signs were normal, KCBS-TV said in a statement.

She was not hospitalized, and a coworker gave her a ride home, the station said.

Branson’s speech slipped during an 11 p.m. newscast on Sunday. After the anchor introduced her, Branson, outside the Staples Center, began speaking but quickly had difficulty forming basic words.

Branson had been smiling widely, but she suddenly looked panicked.

After several awkward seconds, the station cut away to a video package of Grammy performances

Branson is an established pro in the news business. She is a two-time Emmy nominee and worked at three other California news stations before coming to Los Angeles.

Salon.com reported the incident as a possible stroke, but that did not appear to be the case Monday.

But many remain concerned. Even CBS News’s national reporting of the incident indicated there may be a real health scare afoot.

“I am a little surprised,” Dr. John Krakauer, associate professor of neurology and neuroscience at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, told CBS News. “Frankly, I would have admitted her.”

Krakauer, a CBS expert source who is not involved in Branson’s care, speculated that the reporter may have suffered a transient ischemic attack (TIA), also called a “mini-stroke” that only causes temporary problems. She may have also suffered a seizure or experienced a rare condition often associated with migraines, CBS reported.

Social media was not cordial. Neither were outlets like Fox News, which made fun of Branson’s episode. Fox guessed that Branson was drunk.

On the Facebook page “Serene Branson – Get well soon!!” many fans wished her well, but even there people were lining up to criticize Branson for what appeared to be nothing short of a serious health problem. In fact, on some pages, the jokes and criticisms outnumbered the support.

“The botox has overwhelmed her brain. Classic,” wrote Kristen Paes on the page. “Maybe less speed pre broadcast? lol.”

One blogger, Dave Lee, kept track of the media’s attention and ridicule of one of their own.

About The Author

John Guilfoil is the editor-in-chief of Blast: Boston's Online Magazine and the Blast Magazine Network. He can be reached at [email protected]. Tweet @johnguilfoil.

2 Responses

  1. imeanwhat

    My theory is that she did too much blow while partying with the stars during the pre-show. This is a clear case of coke jaw. CBS took down all of the YouTube videos, but you can still see Serene Branson’s coke habit spiral out of control thanks to my trusty flip cam! Read more about her sniffly little episode @imeanwhat http://bit.ly/f4bb3t

    Reply

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