A KTLA 5 news reporter in California managed to maintain her composure while a large cockroach crawled over her during a live broadcast. Rachel Menitoff, a Los Angeles field reporter, was reporting live from Sherman Oaks on an extreme heat alert when the insect landed near her neck.
Menitoff's eyes visibly widened as she appeared to feel the insect crawling over her neck, chest, and clothing. Despite the unsettling encounter, Menitoff finished her segment. Fellow KTLA 5 reporter Jessica Holmes described Menitoff as a true professional for staying calm throughout the broadcast.
"She's just that much of a pro," Holmes said. "I have to hand it to her, she was really calm."
Thousands of social media comments and numerous colleagues praised Menitoff's professionalism. One Facebook user commented, "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 to Menitoff's microphone before flying out of the frame. Studio anchors noted their relief that the insect did not crawl further into her clothing. The KTLA reporters unanimously agreed that they likely would not have handled the situation with the same level of calm.
Off-air footage showed Menitoff placing her microphone down and shaking herself off after the broadcast concluded. Her colleagues speculated that recent weather conditions might be contributing to an increase in insects in the area. They shared experiences of encountering more ants and flies in their homes, which they attributed to California's recent extreme heat.
