FOX 26 Houston evening anchor Anthony Antoine has humorously addressed a recent on-air blooper that gained significant traction online. The incident occurred during a segment highlighting Houston Methodist Hospital's recognition on the U.S. News & World Report's Honor Roll.
Antoine was attempting to read a report that included the hospital's rankings in various departments when he stumbled over several multi-syllable medical terms. "I just had the worst mess-up of my career," Antoine stated in a social media video posted shortly after the broadcast, explaining his decision to share the clip in an effort to "laugh this off" rather than "cry."
During the segment, he attempted to pronounce "obstetrics and gynecology," which he had planned to state as ranking seventh nationally, and also mentioned "cardiology" taking the tenth spot. He described his struggle, saying, "obst- obste- gynecolol-, wow, what the?" He also noted that the words did not present a problem when he read the script privately at his desk.
Antoine explained that the teleprompter's formatting, sometimes breaking words across lines, contributed to his difficulty. "My brain could not connect," he recalled, describing a moment of panic as his mind and mouth failed to align. He lamented that he could have opted for the simpler "OBGYN" or the full phrase "Obstetrics and Gynecology," expressing his belief that he "had it" before the gaffe.
He recounted his internal reaction during the broadcast, characterized by confusion and exclamations like "What the? Huh?" Ultimately, Antoine concluded with a philosophical outlook, stating, "You live and you learn, man. But hey. I do it again tomorrow and I'm damn good at my job - it is what it is."
Following the on-air mistake, Antoine posted a video of himself attempting the difficult words again, this time with more success and dissolving into laughter during a commercial break. "Oh my God! I cannot believe that just happened to me," he exclaimed in the clip.
Antoine joined FOX 26 Houston in 2023 as an evening news anchor. His previous experience includes a morning news anchor role in Richmond, Virginia, and an earlier career path that progressed from camera operator to host at WCIA3 in Champaign, Illinois.