American Reporter Remains Calm as Cockroach Crawls on Her During Live California Heatwave Report

Rachel Menitoff, a reporter for KTLA, experienced an unexpected moment during a live broadcast from Sherman Oaks in Southern California when a cockroach landed on her shoulder while she was covering the ongoing heatwave effects in the area. Despite the insect crawling on her body, neck, and microphone, Menitoff continued reporting without interruption. The cockroach eventually jumped onto the microphone and flew away before the broadcast ended. Only after going off-air did she notice and remove the insect, saying, "Oh, God. I feel something."

The following day, her colleagues praised her composure during the KTLA morning show. One co-anchor remarked on her calmness throughout the incident, while news anchor Megan Henderson commented, "That’s our Rachel Menitoff, so professional. She kept her cool. There’s no way I could have kept going like that." In a post-broadcast interview, Menitoff revealed she was aware of the cockroach but chose not to react until the report was finished, explaining, "I knew it was on me. But I knew if I reacted, I wouldn’t be able to continue the report. So I told myself, just get through this moment and then shake it off."

Ironically, the report focused on the heatwave, and Menitoff noted that cockroaches are attracted to high temperatures and the bright lights of the cameras. The video quickly went viral on social media, with many viewers applauding her professionalism and calm demeanor. The clip also sparked political reactions in Los Angeles when former mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt shared it on X, criticizing City Council member Nithya Raman by suggesting the incident reflected the condition of the district where the report was filmed.