Sam Rubin can’t catch a break. The KTLA entertainment reporter, who was slammed earlier this year for mixing up Samuel L. Jackson and Laurence Fishburne, received a rude wake-up call on Friday, Oct. 24.
During a segment of the morning news, Rubin notes, “My wife calls and says ‘Since when did you become the fat one on that show?’”
As he continues talking, a female voice clearly shouts, “He’s always been!”
The camera then cuts to traffic reporter Ginger Chan, who looks confused for a moment before gasping when she realizes her mic was left on.
KTLA took the slipup lightly, posted a video of the incident and writing, “Accidents happen, and that’s why our anchors are supposed to turn off their microphones when not on camera. Wondering what kinds of slip ups can happen? Watch the clip to see Ginger Chan’s accidental dis. Sorry, Sam Rubin. We think you look great!”
Rubin, 54, laughed off the insult on camera before penning the essay “Do I Look Fat in This Airbrushed Picture?” for Medium.com on Oct. 27.
“This ‘F’ word is particularly loaded, because I think our definition of fat has changed over the years; mostly as many of us have gotten fatter,” he wrote. “If you were to hook me up to a polygraph machine and ask me if I thought I was out and out fat; I would say that I wasn’t. Sure, I can stand to lose a few pounds; who couldn’t. But am I among the morbidly obese? I don’t think so.”
He went on to call Chan’s comment “innocent,” noting his embarrassment over the clip going viral. After her faux pas, Chan tweeted, “Note to self: mic is always hot but yes, I was KIDDIING!”
This isn’t the first time Rubin’s on-air broadcast has made headlines. In February, the entertainment reporter was interviewing Avengers star Samuel L. Jackson, when he congratulated him on his Super Bowl commercial. Turns out, Rubin had mixed up Jackson and Matrix star Laurence Fishburne.
The Django Unchained actor, 65, did not take the mistake lightly, slamming the reporter in the middle of the interview.
“We may be all black and famous, but we don’t look alike!” Jackson exclaimed at the time. “You’re the entertainment reporter?! And you don’t know the difference between me and Laurence Fishburne? There must be a very short line for your job. I’m the ‘What’s in your wallet’ black guy. And I’ve actually never done a McDonalds or a Kentucky Fried Chicken commercial. I know that’s surprising.”
