LA Reporter Stays Cool as Cockroach Crawls Up Her Neck
KTLA reporter Rachel Menitoff became an internet sensation after calmly finishing her live heat wave report while a cockroach crawled across her neck and chest. Her unshakable composure has viewers calling her a true professional.
When a cockroach landed on Los Angeles reporter Rachel Menitoff during a live broadcast Tuesday night, she did something most people would find impossible: she kept talking.
Menitoff was reporting on the Valley's heat wave from Sherman Oaks when the insect appeared on her stomach, then crawled up her neck and across her chest. She continued delivering her report about overnight temperatures without missing a beat.
"I said to myself, 'Just get through this moment and then kind of shake it off,'" Menitoff explained in a follow-up interview. The bug eventually jumped onto her microphone before flying away.
The cockroach's appearance wasn't entirely random. Menitoff noted that these insects are attracted to heat and camera lights, making the timing darkly ironic given her story topic.
Her colleagues at KTLA praised her composure the next morning, with anchor Megan Henderson admitting she could never have stayed that calm. Meteorologist Kirk Hawkins joked that the clip would give everyone nightmares about flying cockroaches.
Sunny's Take
What makes this story special isn't just Menitoff's impressive composure under pressure. It's the reminder that professionalism sometimes means pushing through uncomfortable moments to get the job done.
Menitoff knew stopping mid-report would have been the easier choice. Instead, she trusted herself to handle the situation and finish what she started.
Social media quickly celebrated her poise, with "Good Morning America" co-anchor Gio Benitez writing that she would have "crushed it on Fear Factor." Journalists across the country shared the clip, many admitting they would have completely lost their cool.
In a job where anything can happen during a live shot, Menitoff showed grace under the most literal kind of pressure. Her calm response turned what could have been a career embarrassment into a viral moment of professionalism that inspired colleagues everywhere.
Sometimes the best way through a tough moment is simply to keep going.
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Based on reporting by Fox News Latest Headlines (all sections)
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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