Reporter Steve Ryan Slaps Drunk Prankster In The Face For Ruining Broadcast (VIDEO)

We sympathize with (but do not condone!) reporter Steve Ryan's reaction after this drunk prankster repeatedly harassed him during his live Las Vegas Strip broadcast about Michael Jackson's death. Ryan tries to continue his live report, and initially reacts with good humor and patience, but when the man just won't leave him alone and wrecks the broadcast, Ryan lightly slaps the man in the face. The camera cuts back to the anchors but not before catching the engagement. Wonkette is right that the stunned expressions (0:33) on the anchors' faces (especially the one of the right) "might rank among the greatest YouTube freeze-frames of some period of time."

[WATCH]

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Comments

[miguelisimo2000]

that was money!

[BarackDaVote]

LOL.....Steve had every right to mush that drunk guy in the face....Drunk people are so unpredictable.

[EndTheHumanWar]

I hate drunks. Hate 'em.

[MedinaM]

Nobody watches News 13 out here! But this might interest some people now.

[villagetwist]

Ryan's response was fairly restrained...I don't know how he could keep from laying a hand on him when the guy kept coming at him.

[cruzy]

I am certainly not defending the drunk guy's boorish behavior. However, Mr. Ryan's behavior was unprofessional and quite possibly illegal. Someone being annoying is never a justification under the law to get physical with them. The man was on a public sidewalk, and guess what? One has the right to be annoying, or not be annoying, on a public sidewalk. Also, Nevada has no law against public intoxication. If the man had touched, grabbed or hit Mr. Ryan, then Mr. Ryan would have been perfectly within his rights to push him or hit him as necessary to defend himself. But, that's not what happened.

What should have happened is the following: (1) Since there was no reason to be in downtown Las Vegas where one generally finds annoying drunks, Mr. Ryan's piece should have been shot at another location or in a studio, and (2) Since the piece was shot downtown (for no reason) Mr. Ryan and his crew should have simply walked away from the drunk and said they would do the piece later when they could find a quieter place (and this is what happened anyway, even with him pushing the guy).

I am so tired of adults acting like drama queens and escalating situations. Just move on; it wastes less time and almost always gets better results.

[sueno]

That wasn't a slap-
and he was protecting himself.

[cruzy]

No, he wasn't. The guy didn't do anything, but act obnoxious and get in the shot. Protecting yourself is when someone grabs you, touches you sexually, or hits you. None of this happened. Mr. Ryan was just pissed off the guy ruined the shot (which I don't blame him for being pissed off about); however, that's not a reason to shove anyone.

Also, the real issue is that the camera crew had no business going to a public place known for being crawling with obnoxious drunks and then getting indignant when they encountered one. There was no reason for him to report his little bit in downtown Las Vegas outside of bars/casinos. Nevada has no public intoxication laws (purposefully), and it encourages people to come and party and engage in wild activities which "stay in Vegas." When you have that sort of atmosphere, you are going to get obnoxious behavior. Just move along, or better yet, film from a studio or outside at a more civilized location.

[Ergon]

The word: 'hijacked' :)

[Ergon]

The question was, what word will trigger automatic 'moderation'? (Oops, I just used another one! :)
The original post was a joke about lawyers hijacking ambulances.

[den1953]

It would have been a classic if the drunk blew chunks on camera!

[chrispychilla28]

HAHAHA

I Luv the look on the female anchors face after they cut back. Priceless

[janie@atthelake]

I know---very funny!

[dfuller]

Why doesn't this article mention that the report works for an ABC affiliate? How would this article have read if it were a Fox affiliate?

Why do my comments pointing this out keeping getting moderated?

[blindjester]

Technically, you haven't pointed anything out.

Check the posts about Shep Smith to see how people here respond to Fox broadcasters trying hard to do a good job.

[dfuller]

Can you give me a single example of even one article related to a Fox news affiliate where the artilcle wasn't very clear that it was Fox? Had this been a Fox affiliate, do you even doubt that it would have been mentioned in the headline for the article?

[NeoStar9]

No lawsuit would ever result. No case at all. The drunk guy was clearly in the wrong and he was more pushed then anything. He was clearly harassing the reporter as well and dare I saw showing displays of public drunkenness which is clearly against the law but then again this is Vegas.

[Austin123]

That's what happens in Vegas, drunks at all times of the day and the Las Vegas businesses and people usually just pander to the drunken fools. Thanks God someone finally said enough is enough and shoved one of those intoxicated punks.

[yoli647]

The reporter should of really slapped him hard in his face for being such a drunken punk.

[jdlund]

That wasn't a slap. It was a shove that glances off the guy's cheek. And for all you people talking lawsuit, the man doesn't have a case. I know of no lawyer who would take that case. Why? No damages. Even with an intentional tort you still generally need to show some type of compensable damges. There are very very few times in which you don't need to show damages. This would not be one of those times. He has no actual damages to speak of and that conduct would not trigger punative damages so that's that. No case. Anyone who would file suit would just do it hoping that the station settles, and I see no reason why they would.

[Ergon]

This is America. Legions of lawyers will be hijacking ambulances to ride in and help the fool.
Assault, intentional embarrassment, damage to reputation, nerve damage, loss of sexual function, headaches...and possibly whiplash.
His brain surgeon brother :) would be happy to corroborate.

[Ryoki]

The Hp M od er a tors strike again!