In what is probably every broadcast journalist's worst nightmare, Kathie Lee Gifford made a very public error during the fourth hour of the Today show on Wednesday.
Guest star Martin Short appeared on the show to promote the film Madagascar 3. Midway through the conversation with co-anchors Gifford and Hoda Kotb, Gifford asks about Short's wife, who died of ovarian cancer in 2010.
Short handles the questions calmly, even when Gifford makes an unknowing joke about how the couple are still in love.
Gifford is no stranger to on-air, cringe-worthy moments. In 2011, a segment that led to a crying autistic boy prompted Howard Stern to accuse her of child abuse.
Despite Gifford's recent gaff on television, she has already sent a sincere apology on Twitter.
I send my sincerest apologies to @MartinShort and his family. He handled situation w/enormous grace and kindness and I'm so grateful.— Kathie Lee Gifford (@KathieLGifford) May 30, 2012