It is a newsreader's worst nightmare. Taking a loo break and not realising your microphone is still on. Just ask CNN's Kyra Phillips.
News junkies enjoyed - if that's the right word - an unexpected glimpse into Phillips' private life during President Bush's speech to mark the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
While Bush was proudly announcing he had "recommended practical reforms to make sure the response is better", Phillips cut in: "Yeah, I'm very lucky in that regard with my husband. My husband is handsome and he is genuinely a loving, you know, no ego - you know what I'm saying?"
The bathroom conversation with her colleague continued: "Just a really passionate, compassionate great, great human being. And they exist. They do exist. They're hard to find. Yup. But they are out there."
Meanwhile Bush could just about still be heard talking about Katrina. Then Phillips moved onto her sister-in-law. Unfortunately the verdict was not so favourable.
"Brothers have to be, you know, protective. Except for mine. I've got to be protective of him... Yeah, he's married, three kids, but his wife is just a control freak."
Fortunately for Phillips there were no swear words - save a barely audible "assholes" - so a seven figure fine from the FCC is probably not in the pipeline. Just lots of embarrassment.
"CNN experienced audio difficulties during the president's speech today in New Orleans," said the broadcaster in a statement. "We apologize to our viewers and the president for the disruption."
It's not the first time CNN has been hit by a bizarre technical glitch. During a live speech by vice president Dick Cheney last year, his face was obscured by a giant "X" on the screen. And two years ago a producer could be heard swearing after balloons failed to drop at a Democratic convention.
Read the full transcript and access plenty of video and audio links here. Meanwhile, it hasn't take long for Phillips' Wikipedia entry to be updated. The web can be very cruel, can't it? But not as cruel as open mics.
