After 25 years on the air, veteran journalist Holly Morris bid farewell to FOX 5 DC in 2024. While her career has been filled with notable achievements, a recent viral video on YouTube has unexpectedly drawn massive attention—but not for the reasons she might have wanted.

Holly Morris has been a well-known figure in Washington, D.C. journalism. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, the 54-year-old graduated from Duke University in 1993 with a degree in civil engineering. However, she ultimately found her calling in broadcasting, joining WTTG, a Fox affiliate in Washington, D.C., in 1998. As one of four main anchors on the morning newscast and Good Day DC, she became a household name. Known for her hands-on reporting style, Morris immersed herself in the stories she covered, often participating in the community events she reported on. Her engaging presence and dynamic approach earned her four regional Emmy Awards for “Best Live Reporting” and a regional Edward R. Murrow Award.

Despite her impressive career, Morris has had her share of controversies and unexpected on-air moments. Back in 2014, she participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge on Fox 5 to support ALS awareness, which was well received. However, she also found herself the subject of ridicule years earlier on the nationally syndicated Don and Mike Show, which in 2007 aired a weekly segment called “The Wheel of Holly.” The segment featured random clips of her reporting played for comedic effect, drawing laughs at her expense.

One of the more personal struggles Morris faced became public in 2016 when she opened up about her painful 2005 divorce from former FOX 5 weatherman Tom Sater. For years, speculation surrounded their split, and during a candid discussion on Fox 5’s podcast, Morris revealed that her marriage fell apart due to Sater’s affair with a colleague and his struggles with addiction—details she had never disclosed before. She recalled the deep emotional toll of discovering that many of her co-workers had known about the affair before she did. Even worse, she had unknowingly co-anchored morning newscasts alongside the woman Sater had been involved with. Though Morris chose not to name the individuals involved, it was widely known that Sater’s affair was with former Fox 5 anchor Gurvir Dhindsa, whom he later married. The couple had twins in 2008, and Sater left Fox 5 under unclear circumstances, raising questions about whether his personal life had played a role in his departure.

Despite the difficulties, Morris remained professional, continuing to work alongside Dhindsa for years in what she described as an uncomfortable environment. She even claimed that Dhindsa had an odd fixation on her, mimicking her clothing choices and sending emails under a fake name.

Amidst these personal struggles, Morris eventually found happiness again. She reconnected with her former college crush, attorney Thomas Espy, and the two tied the knot on July 21, 2007. They built a life together in Rockville, Maryland, welcoming their son, Hayden Espy. Reflecting on her past, Morris saw her divorce as a disguised blessing.

“It’s the best damn thing that ever happened to me,” she once said.

However, one of the most infamous moments in her career came in 2013 when a slip of the tongue during a live broadcast ignited controversy. While covering President Barack Obama’s second inauguration, Morris intended to say “inaugural” but accidentally uttered a racial slur. Though she continued speaking without acknowledging the mistake, the slip quickly went viral, drawing widespread outrage on social media. Many Twitter users condemned her, with some suggesting that such a mistake could only happen if she regularly used the word in private. Morris never addressed the incident publicly, though some came to her defense. Journalist Russ Ptacek noted that live TV can sometimes lead to words coming out wrong, stating that the slip was unintentional but unfortunate.

More recently, a different kind of viral moment put Morris in the spotlight. On March 15, 2024, she officially signed off from FOX 5, stepping away from local TV news. But a widely circulated YouTube clip from June 4, 2023, has unexpectedly thrust her back into public attention. In the video, Morris, as her usual upbeat self, appeared on Good Day DC wearing a short dress while seated in a position that seemed to reveal more than intended. Surprisingly, neither she nor the cameraman appeared to notice, as the camera angle remained unchanged throughout the segment. The clip spread quickly across social media, sparking discussions about live TV mishaps and wardrobe choices.

Many viewers were stunned, with one commenter writing, “How does she just go on about her day knowing what she did? I think everyone in news is talking about this… hopefully learning lol.”

Another user noted, “After this day, it’s like a memo went out. The last couple of weeks have been brutal. Mainly pants and long dresses on everyone.”

Live television is unpredictable, and these unplanned moments remind audiences that nothing is scripted. Whether it’s an awkward slip-up, an unexpected on-air moment, or a wardrobe malfunction, they keep viewers engaged and entertained. While Holly Morris’ viral moment has sparked debates, it serves as yet another example of the surprises that make live TV so compelling.