New ‘Sunrise’ anchor Mylee Hogan shocked her co-hosts by taking a viral prank too far on air this week.
Hogan reported on the TikTok trend that went viral over the Christmas break, where millennials told their older parents their favourite celebrities had died.
Hogan – granddaughter of Australian icon Paul Hogan – discussed the viral trend on Wednesday’s show before stand-in host Mark Beretta ended the report abruptly.
“That could be the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen,” Beretta said. “I don’t like it at all. We shouldn’t be running that. Get it off. Get it off now.”
As Beretta tried to segue into a segment with cricket legend and former Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath talking about the Boxing Day Test, Hogan joked, “Glenn McGrath has died!”
Although said off-camera, the comment was clear and prompted a stern reaction from Beretta and co-host, Edwina Bartholomew.
“Don’t even… that’s not funny,” said Bartholomew, with Beretta adding, “I don’t get that at all. It’s so not funny.”
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Hogan could be heard laughing and defending herself in the background while Bartholomew apologised to viewers.
“It’s not funny,” she said. “Sorry.”
Hogan had earlier played clips of TikTok videos showing the dramatic reactions of parents being told fake news of the death of stars, similar to this one of a mother being told Ozzy Osbourne had died:
@katesiamro I think my mom never wants me back for Christmas dinner 😬 #fakecelebrityprank #fakecelebritydeath #ozzy #ozzyosbourne #merrychristmas
“Some people think the over-the-top reactions are funny, others think it’s a cruel joke,” Hogan reported, adding, “I personally think this is really funny, guys! Just a bit of fun!”
“I think this shows the generation divide, because Beretts doesn’t think it’s funny at all,” Bartholomew replied.
The fake celebrity death prank has seen the untimely “demise” of many notable figures, including US president Joe Biden, Oprah Winfrey, Ozzy Osbourne, Celine Dion, Michael Bublé, Mary J Blige, Sandra Bullock and more.
