Fox News Personality Dana Perino’s Most Awkward On-Air Blunder Of All Time

Dana Perino, a well-known anchor on Fox News, found herself in the midst of a viral on-air blunder that would forever be remembered in the annals of live television mishaps. While most news personalities are known for occasional slip-ups or awkward moments, Perino’s gaffe on The Five in 2021 took the top spot in the category of awkward moments when she unintentionally revealed co-anchor Jessica Tarlov’s pregnancy — a secret no one knew about at the time.

The Big Reveal: A Slip-Up That Stunned the Audience

During a segment on The Five where the hosts were discussing what they had been doing during the COVID-19 pandemic, Perino asked Tarlov, “Jessica, did you try anything new? I mean you’ve got something new coming!”

Tarlov’s stunned reaction, complete with wide eyes, was immediate. It became clear that Perino had just spilled the beans on a major personal detail. Tarlov, though clearly flustered, confirmed the news by saying, “Yeah, and now the audience knows. So, I’m pregnant,” which led to an uncomfortable but hilarious moment on live TV.

While Tarlov took it in stride, acknowledging the slip-up, the situation left Perino mortified. “Maybe this is a good reason I shouldn’t have two shows,” she joked, trying to lighten the mood. The rest of the panel erupted into laughter, including Tarlov, and the awkwardness was diffused by the good-natured response from the team.

Social Media Reactions and Public Apologies

While the audience laughed it off, Perino’s embarrassment was palpable. Later that day, she took to X (formerly Twitter) to apologize publicly, writing, “I love this woman! @JessicaTarlov Let me be the one to accidentally spill the beans. But they are such good beans!!”

Tarlov, ever the good sport, replied in the comments, “Saved me a lot of fretting over a reveal. Love you!” It was clear that there were no hard feelings between the two, and Tarlov even found humor in the situation.

A year later, Perino couldn’t resist revisiting the incident, reflecting on the awkward anniversary. She wrote on X, “A year ago I spilled the beans on The Five that @JessicaTarlov was pregnant with her sweet and loving daughter. In my defense, she was 6.5 months pregnant! I still want to faint when I think about that moment.” Perino ended her post with, “Happy awkward anniversary, Jessica!”

Tarlov, always gracious, responded with, “Happy awkward anniversary to you, too! As I said at the time, saved me the trouble of having to reveal it — did me a favor. You’re the best.”

The Aftermath: A Blessing in Disguise?

In hindsight, both Perino and Tarlov have come to see the moment as a blessing in disguise. While Perino’s unintentional reveal may have been a major on-air mistake, Tarlov was able to skip the stress of having to make an official announcement. Instead, Perino’s blunder allowed Tarlov to share the happy news in a way that was genuine, funny, and completely unexpected.

The incident remains a defining moment in Dana Perino’s career, one that will go down in the history of awkward TV moments. Despite the embarrassment, Perino’s sense of humor and Tarlov’s good-natured response turned what could have been a major PR disaster into an amusing and heartwarming exchange.

Final Thoughts

While live TV is always a risky endeavor, Dana Perino’s accidental reveal of Jessica Tarlov’s pregnancy became a viral sensation that fans continue to talk about. Even a year later, the pair laughs about the “awkward anniversary” and has no regrets about the unintentional way Tarlov’s pregnancy became public knowledge. It’s a moment that highlighted the real, human side of television, and one that fans will likely never forget.