Hot mic explained

A hot mic, sometimes referred to as an open microphone or (in aviation) a stuck mic, is in general an apparent error in which a microphone is switched on or remains on, especially without the speaker realizing.[1]

A special case of hot mic is the microphone gaffe, in which the microphone is actively collecting and transmitting sound gathered near a subject who is unaware that their remarks are being transmitted and recorded, allowing unintended listeners or viewers to hear parts of conversations not intended for public consumption. Such errors usually involve live broadcasting in radio or television, and sometimes material is recorded and played back via media outlets. Such events can cause embarrassment for the person or organization involved, sometimes resulting in serious confrontations and employment termination.

Noted occurrences of microphone gaffes

Television broadcasts

Political

See main article: Political gaffe.

Other

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: hot mic . 2021-08-22 . Cambridge Dictionary . a microphone that is switched on, especially without the speaker realizing .
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  29. News: 2022-10-18 . Kremlin denies using Iranian drones in attack on Ukraine . en . Reuters . 2022-10-21.
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  41. [Urban Legends Reference Pages]
  42. [Guardian Unlimited]
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  50. CNN. 21 July 2006. "Bush, Blair laugh off microphone mishap". Accessed 30 August 2006.
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  55. News: Gordon Brown 'mortified' by his 'bigoted woman' slur. 28 April 2010. BBC News.
  56. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XtPMq9xxOY Carly Fiorina Open Mic Gaffe
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  58. Web site: Barack Obama gaffe caught on microphone. https://web.archive.org/web/20120327213413/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/9167428/Barack-Obama-gaffe-caught-on-microphone.html. dead. 27 March 2012. The Telegraph. 9 April 2012. 26 March 2012.
  59. News: Knott. Matthew. Peter Dutton apologises for microphone gaffe. 15 September 2015. The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 September 2015.
  60. News: Sen. Collins apologizes to Rep. Blake Farenthold for calling him 'fat' and 'unattractive'. Quinn. Melissa. The Washington Examiner. 25 July 2017. 11 August 2017.
  61. Web site: Grieve. Pete. 25 July 2017. Collins, Farenthold apologize to each other after hot mic catches Collins calling GOP rep 'unattractive'. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201109040501/https://edition.cnn.com/2017/07/25/politics/susan-collins-blake-farenthold-unattractive-duel/index.html. 9 November 2020. 2021-04-12. CNN.
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  63. News: 2019-12-04 . Nato summit: Trump calls Trudeau 'two-faced' over video . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-07-06.
  64. Web site: 2019-12-04 . Trump says calling Trudeau "two-faced" was "funny" . 2023-07-06 . CNN . en.
  65. News: Coronavirus: Welsh health minister caught swearing about Labour AM . 22 April 2020 . BBC News . 22 April 2020 . 22 April 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200422184543/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-52385006 . live .
  66. News: Waterson . Jim . Hern . Alex . 2020-04-22 . Welsh minister's mic mistake broadcasts sweary rant to assembly . 2024-03-17 . The Guardian . en-GB . 17 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240317204313/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/apr/22/welsh-ministers-mic-mistake-broadcasts-sweary-rant-to-assembly . live .
  67. Web site: Rep. Eliot Engel caught on hot mic: 'If I didn't have a primary, I wouldn't care' . Foran . Clare . 3 June 2020 . CNN . 31 March 2021.
  68. Web site: Eliot Engel's Hot Mic Moment: 'If I Didn't Have a Primary, I Wouldn't Care' . Goldmacher . Shane . 24 June 2020 . The New York Times . 31 March 2021.
  69. Web site: Progressive Jamaal Bowman Projected To Oust Longtime Rep. Engel In N.Y. Primary . Moore . Elena . 17 July 2020 . NPR . 31 March 2021.
  70. Web site: Swanson. Ian. 2020-08-21. Democratic senator swears on-air at Postal Service hearing: 'F---, f---, f---'. 2020-08-21. TheHill. en.
  71. Web site: Kurohi. Rei. 2021-09-15. Vivian Balakrishnan apologises to PSP's Leong Mun Wai for remarks in Parliament. 2021-09-15. The Straits Times. en.
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  73. Web site: Wulfsohn. Joseph. 2022-01-24. Biden calls Fox News' Peter Doocy a 'stupid son of a b----' after question about inflation. 2022-01-25. Fox News. en-US.
  74. Web site: Maegan Vazquez. Biden caught on hot mic calling Fox reporter 'a stupid son of a bitch'. 2022-01-25. CNN.
  75. Web site: Truss turns on the media. The Spectator. Steerpike. 10 August 2022. 10 August 2022.
  76. Web site: Liz Truss caught on hot mic apologising for attacking media during Tory hustings. Lynch. David. Adu. Aletha. Daily Mirror. 9 August 2022. 10 August 2022.
  77. Web site: South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol denies US insult caught on hot mic. BBC News. 23 September 2022. 24 September 2022.
  78. Web site: New Zealand: Jacinda Ardern apologises for MP insult caught on mic. BBC News. 13 December 2022.
  79. Web site: 2022-12-13 . Jacinda Ardern caught on hot mic calling minor opposition party leader an 'arrogant prick' . 2022-12-24 . the Guardian . en.
  80. Web site: 2023-07-13 . Explainer: Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin's use of 'unparliamentary language' — what are the House's rules on such conduct? . 2023-07-14 . . en.
  81. Web site: 2023-07-11 . Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin apologises to Jamus Lim for 'unparliamentary language' caught on hot mic . 2023-07-14 . . en.
  82. Web site: Gillian Keegan apologises for swearing over school concrete crisis. BBC News. 4 September 2023. 4 September 2023.
  83. Web site: Gillian Keegan caught on hot mic asking why she's not thanked for 'f-----g good job' . youtube.com . . en . video . 4 September 2023.
  84. Times Online. 31 March 2005. "Charles attacks 'bloody press' in microphone gaffe." Accessed 30 August 2006.
  85. Web site: 1-877-KARS-4-KIDS: Behind the Most Hated (and Best) Jingle of All Time. Noisey. 11 November 2015 . Vice. 25 August 2016.
  86. Web site: MORNING ROUNDUP: Don Imus Apologizes for Telling Kids' Charity Singer to 'Go to Hell'. The Hollywood Reporter. 25 August 2016.