KTLA 5 reporter Rachel Menitoff maintained her professionalism during a live broadcast in California on July 15, 2026, when a large cockroach landed on her neck.
Menitoff was reporting on an extreme heat alert in Sherman Oaks when the insect appeared. Video footage shows her eyes widening as she felt the cockroach crawling on her neck, chest, and clothing. Despite the unnerving experience, she finished her segment without faltering.
Fellow KTLA reporters praised Menitoff's composure. "She's just that much of a pro," said Jessica Holmes. Eric Spillman added, "I have to hand it to her, she was really calm."
Social media users and peers alike commended Menitoff's ability to stay calm, with one Facebook user writing, "How did she not even flinch? On the other hand, would have thrown the microphone and screamed a bloodcurdling scream and run off into the street."
The cockroach eventually moved onto Menitoff's microphone before flying out of the camera's frame. Anchors in the studio expressed relief that the insect did not crawl further into her clothing.
After the broadcast concluded, a behind-the-scenes clip showed Menitoff taking off her microphone and shaking her clothing. Fellow reporters speculated that the recent extreme heat in California might be contributing to an increase in insect activity, noting a rise in ants and flies in their homes as well.