NEED TO KNOW
- Olivia Cleary, a sports reporter with ABC affiliate KEZI in Oregon, is speaking out after a clip of her live Oct. 18 broadcast went viral
- In the clip, several young men repeatedly interrupted the journalist as she delivered a mid-game report
- “Live TV is unpredictable and sometimes you have to roll with it!” Cleary said in a post on X
An Oregon-based sports reporter is speaking out after a video of her being interrupted by a group of unruly fans went viral.
Olivia Cleary, a reporter with ABC affiliate KEZI in Oregon, was covering the game between Oregon State University and Lafayette University on Saturday, Oct. 18, when a group of young men interfered with her shot.
In the clip, which was later shared on X by KEZI sports director Brett Austin Taylor, the young men surrounded Cleary as she delivered her mid-game report and interrupted her with their antics. One poked his head into the live shot and later stuck his hand into the frame, seemingly seeking a fist bump from the reporter.
Another young man repeatedly shouted the viral phrase “6-7” while Cleary attempted to deliver her report. Several other young men laughed, and a few began doing the up-and-down hand gestures associated with the “6-7” trend.
Eventually, the screaming young man paused and pulled out his phone, presumably to record the scene, before he resumed yelling. Off camera, someone could be heard saying “[He’s] 22 years old, by the way!”
At one point in the clip, another young man joined in, screaming “help” multiple times while doing the “6-7” gesture and holding a beer.
Cleary remained composed throughout the ordeal, which quickly went viral. A short time later, she spoke out about the experience in a post on X.
“I’m aware of the video circulating and want to thank everyone for the support!” Cleary wrote. “At the start of my live shot, fans were kind and added a fun element to my coverage. As it went on, a few fans stuck around and things got a little out of hand which is what you saw.”
She continued, “For the most part, Beaver Nation has been very welcoming to me. Live TV is unpredictable and sometimes you have to roll with it!”
Officials with Oregon State’s athletic program also responded to the incident with a statement shared in a pair of posts on X.
“We’re aware of the incident circulating on social media involving disruptive fan behavior during a live report,” they stated in their first post. “The actions displayed do not reflect the values of Beaver Nation or our fan code of conduct.”
In a second post, the officials said they “commend” Cleary for “her professionalism and composure in handling the moment.”
“We are reviewing the situation further and apologize to the reporter for her experience,” they added.
Cleary also received support on X from several journalists, including some of her co-workers. Cameron Derby, another sports director for KEZI, said in one post that the situation was “extremely frustrating to watch.”
“Ridiculous behavior, and extremely unfair to a young, professional reporter trying to grow her career,” Derby wrote. “Olivia did not deserve this. No one does. If the game isn’t exciting enough, go home.”
In a later post, Derby turned his attention to Cleary. “I also want to say, Olivia did an incredible job working through it,” he wrote. “The position she was put in probably felt like hours. I applaud how steady she stayed. She wouldn’t let that stop the story from being told.”
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Oregon sports columnist John Canzano also applauded Cleary for showing “tremendous poise and composure in this live shot at Oregon State,” while the fans around her “did not.”
Oregon State sports writer Ryan Harlan quoted the post containing the original video and simply said, “That’s horrible – do better Beaver Nation.”
Responding to Cleary’s post, The Oregonian sports reporter Aaron J. Fentress lauded Cleary for her “classy response,” adding that he had “been there myself” in the past.
Fentress also said he would have “absolutely would have gone Chip Kelly on [that] dude,” and included a clip of the former University of Oregon coach shouting at unruly fans who interfered with a post-game interview in 2011.
Cleary and KEZI did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.
