Danika Mason has issued an on-air apology on the Today Show after her recent Winter Olympics crosses from Italy drew widespread online attention.

Appearing on the breakfast program on Thursday morning, the 34-year-old Channel Nine sports reporter apologised at the end of her live cross from Livigno, admitting she had been drinking the night before. 

‘And guys, just before we do go, I just want to take a moment if that’s okay, just to apologise,’ she began.

‘I also wanted to say thank you for everyone who has reached out. I’m okay. Probably just a little bit embarrassed. 

‘Look, I totally misjudged a situation. I shouldn’t have had a drink. And especially in these conditions, it’s cold. We’ve got altitude. And not having had dinner probably didn’t help as well.

‘But I want to take full responsibility. It’s not the standard that I set for myself.

Channel Nine sports reporter Danika Mason has issued an on-air apology on the Today Show after her recent Winter Olympics crosses from Italy drew widespread attention

‘So in saying that, I am genuinely sorry.’

Danika went on to thank those who reached out out of concern, while Today Show host Karl Stefanovic – who famously made a drunken appearance on the program the morning after the 2009 Logies – praised his colleague for her hard work. 

‘I don’t even know what you’re talking about,’ he said.

‘You’re the best, Danika. Don’t worry about it. Let’s move on.’

Danika’s crosses to the Nine breakfast show on Wednesday sparked such an uproar on social media that Channel Nine eventually turned off the comments to its post.

She had featured in sport segments with Karl Stefanovic and Jayne Azzopardi while standing outside in a snowstorm at about 10pm local time.

At one point, Danika rambled about the price of coffee and responded to Karl likening her to a frozen iguana.

‘The price of coffee over here is actually fine… it’s actually the price of coffee in the US we have to get used to… I’m not sure about the iguanas? Where are we going with that one? Anyway, let’s get into today’s sport because there’s plenty happening back home…’

Appearing on the breakfast program on Thursday morning, the 34-year-old Channel Nine sports reporter apologised at the end of her live cross from Livigno, admitting she had been drinking the night before

Viewers immediately noticed Danika appeared to slur her words and stumble over her sentences as she attempted to deliver the latest sports news, and made snow angels for the cameras.

She battled through the chilly conditions in Livigno as Karl and Jayne suggested the bitterly cold weather was making it difficult to speak, with the presenter visibly bracing against the harsh elements during the cross.

‘There is such a cold wind, you can’t actually move your lips,’ Stefanovic claimed.

Social media users were quick to offer their own cheerful commentary about her segment with Nine’s social media administrators eventually limiting the comments on their post.

‘I think Danika is a bit under the weather,’ one viewer wrote, while another added: ‘A little under the weather I see, or hear?’

‘Lol Karl, Sarah and Jane passing off Danika as being cold and it’s difficult to speak. Most entertaining sports news for the year so far!’ another joked.

Others said the segment had brightened their morning, with one user posting: ‘Danika’s sports reports this morning have literally made my day! Thanks Danni!’