Nationwide — Dominique Dillon, a FOX13 Memphis anchor, sparked online reactions after appearing to briefly close her eyes during a live broadcast. The moment went viral, with many viewers defending the new mom and saying she deserves understanding while balancing her career and family.
A video shared online showed Dillon sitting at the news desk with her eyes closed and her head resting in her hands as the camera focused on her during the broadcast. The clip gained widespread attention after it was shared by television industry blog FTVLive.
An Instagram post featuring the video joked that Dillon was “caught SLEEP ON CAMERA,” drawing thousands of likes and comments. While some people questioned the moment, many viewers quickly came to the anchor’s defense.
Supporters pointed out that Dillon recently welcomed a baby and is now caring for two young children while working demanding early-morning television shifts, as reported by the New York Post. Many commenters said the exhaustion that comes with being a new parent can be difficult to manage.
Some viewers shifted their criticism toward the production crew, saying the team should not have returned the camera to Dillon if she was not ready. Others in the television industry said tired moments are common among anchors who work long morning schedules.
One broadcaster shared that they had also fallen asleep during commercial breaks, while another said early morning news shifts can be especially challenging for journalists.
Dillon recently became the weekend anchor for FOX13 Memphis’ Saturday and Sunday broadcasts while continuing her weekday reporting duties for “Good Morning Memphis.” She joined the station in 2019 after working as a reporter for KTAL in Texarkana.
It is still unclear whether Dillon actually fell asleep during the broadcast or was simply resting her eyes for a brief moment.