Live TV Professionalism
Unflappable KTLA Reporter Continues Live Report Despite Cockroach Crawling on Her Body
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Key Points
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Her KTLA colleague Jessica Holmes described Menitoff as incredibly composed, saying, "She probably wasn't sure what it was, you just know there's something."
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Coverage notes the roach moved across her body—landing on her shoulder, then crawling across her chest and neck before leaping onto her microphone and flying away.
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Behind-the-scenes footage shows Menitoff dropping the microphone and brushing off the bug after the shot, illustrating what happened off-camera once the live segment ended.
4
The moment spilled into online commentary beyond traditional outlets, including a Twitchy post that used the incident for political satire and commentary about Los Angeles conditions.
A giant cockroach crawled across KTLA reporter Rachel Menitoff's neck, chest, and microphone during a live broadcast in Sherman Oaks, California — and she never broke stride. The Wrap reported that Menitoff was covering the Los Angeles heat wave when the insect landed near her neck, crawled across her body, and eventually flew away from her mic, all while she kept delivering her report without missing a word.
The clip spread quickly across social media and news sites. Viewers and colleagues alike praised Menitoff for staying calm through what many described as a nightmare scenario for any live TV reporter.
Cockroach Crawls Across Reporter's Neck and Mic
Yahoo News reported that the bug landed near Menitoff's neck before racing across her chest and up her dress. It then leaped onto her microphone before flying away. The whole sequence happened on live television in front of viewers tuned in to a Tuesday night newscast. Menitoff gave no visible reaction and kept her focus on the heat-wave report the entire time.
Fox 56 News noted that Menitoff later said, "I knew it was on me." That awareness makes her composure even more striking. She felt the bug but chose to push through the report rather than react on camera.
Colleague Says She Probably Did Not Know What It Was
KTLA anchor Jessica Holmes weighed in on the moment after the segment ended. Holmes described Menitoff as incredibly composed, saying, "She probably wasn't sure what it was, you just know there's something." The two discussed the incident on-air, giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at how the crew reacted once the live shot was over.
Off-Camera Moment Shows What Happened After the Shot
Behind-the-scenes footage captured what Menitoff did once the cameras cut away. Fox 56 News reported that she dropped her microphone and brushed off the bug immediately after the segment ended. The footage offered a fuller picture of the moment — calm on-screen, then a quick and understandable reaction the second she was off the air.
The Australian described the bug as massive, noting it nearly slipped down her shirt during the broadcast. The size of the cockroach made Menitoff's on-air composure even more remarkable to those watching at home and online.
Heat Wave Sets the Stage for Bug Encounters Outdoors
The incident happened during a live report on extreme heat gripping Los Angeles. Hot weather drives insects outdoors and into areas with more foot traffic and light. For reporters covering summer heat waves in California, the conditions make outdoor live shots particularly unpredictable. Menitoff's encounter quickly became a symbol of the unscripted challenges local reporters face in the field.
The clip was shared widely across entertainment sites and social media. Yahoo News called it a moment where the reporter "somehow held it together." The story resonated far beyond Los Angeles, drawing attention to the physical demands of live field reporting in extreme weather conditions.
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