Not one week after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field during a Monday Night Football game, a young Canadian journalist appeared to suffer a medical emergency during a live broadcast, further fueling concerns over an unaddressed crisis.
Sunday evening, Jessica Robb of the Edmonton, Alberta-based CTV News was reporting on location, speaking with anchor Nahreman Issa when a routine broadcast took a turn for the worse. In a video that rapidly went viral on social media, Robb can be seen taking a pause after botching her script and stating, “Sorry Nahreman. I’m, I’m, I’m not feeling very well right now, and I’m about to just…”
While the shot remained a split of both women, Issa stated, “OK, we’ll come back to you and we’ll make sure that Jessica, you are doing OK,” but Robb looked far from OK as she cut-off mid-sentence and her professional smile turned into a look of panic while she began to teeter on screen.
Conservative comedians the Hodgetwins asked in all seriousness when they shared the unsettling images, “Why does this keep happening…”
Why does this keep happening… pic.twitter.com/mjbXXw1Nzx
— Hodgetwins (@hodgetwins) January 9, 2023
Evidently, inquiries flooded the outlet as Sunday night they tweeted, “PROGRAMMING NOTE: Thanks to everyone who inquired about our reporter who became ill during the 6 p.m. News. Jessica Robb is feeling better and is now resting.”
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Thanks to everyone who inquired about our reporter who became ill during the 6 p.m. News. Jessica Robb is feeling better and is now resting.
— CTV Edmonton (@ctvedmonton) January 9, 2023
Robb, whose account is currently protected, offered her own update around the same time which one user snagged a screenshot of, “I won’t bury the lede: I’m okay. Thank you to everyone who has reached, my cameraman @Stmcclune for being there for me, & @NahremanIssaCTV for being an absolute pro (as usual).”
The user had previously reacted to a video of Robb’s apparent medical emergency, “Oh but we are racist climate change conspiracy theorists — this is heartbreaking and WE know…”
From Jessica Robb – 20 minutes ago – still it seems sus and is she the only one with access to her Twitter?? pic.twitter.com/LErrU4RFQT
— Matthew Austin (@FREED0MPUNCH) January 9, 2023
Another shared a post of Robb’s from April where the young journalist had posted an image of a COVID test and said, “Consider this my official out of (the physical) office. Feeling very lucky to be vaxxed x3 & that I started isolating as soon as symptoms started. More than anything it’s the personal defeat I’m feeling…”
That user remarked, “At least Jessica Robb was triple ‘vaxxed.’ Her stroke on live TV could have been worse.”
At least Jessica Robb was triple “vaxxed.” Her stroke on live TV could have been worse. #StopTheShots pic.twitter.com/xPYzLl38qO
— Michelle Efendi (@EfendiMichelle) January 9, 2023
The incident was just the latest in a terrifying trend of medical emergencies caught on camera like the on-air seizure that Atlanta Hawks play-by-play announcer Bob Rathbun appeared to have in December which was later reported to have been a result of “dehydration.”
Sports announcer suffers frightening medical emergency on air, theories fly https://t.co/5ebGXKrkml pic.twitter.com/8naTtWdDr7
— BPR (@BIZPACReview) December 7, 2022
The abnormal trend once again caused concerned viewers to theorize that Robb may have suffered an adverse reaction and speculation was heightened by her and Issa’s accounts both being set to protected mode, limiting access.
Probably.
— Michelle Efendi (@EfendiMichelle) January 9, 2023
— 20-100 (@boumboum4444) January 9, 2023
— CourtneyLynne (@kourtneelynne) January 9, 2023
As with Hamlin, many reacted by sending prayers to the young woman as others demanded something be done to prevent further tragedy. Still more said that what they’ve witnessed is already more than they can handle.
Well this is truly heartbreaking, it is upsetting to watch so many passing away and dying suddenly! I never would want anyone, not even my enemies enemy to die! My prayers go out to her that she recovers!
— #325DOJ – Disciple of Jesus (@FREED0MPUNCH) January 9, 2023
It’s only just beginning, and it’s already too much to bear.
— Mama Bear Extraordinaire (@lilsistweets) January 9, 2023
I’m genuinely concerned for these people who believed they were doing the right thing.
— Jack Lombardi II (@JackLombardi) January 9, 2023
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
- Canadian musician cancels US tour over politics but we’re still trying to figure out who he is - July 15, 2025
- Trump admin torches activist judge for ‘untenable’ immigration order - July 15, 2025
- House Democrats put Republicans on record opposing a vote on the ‘full release of the Epstein files’ - July 15, 2025
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.