TV Talk: WPXI reporter's live shot goes viral after 'a woman tried to grab my face'

WPXI’s Andrew Havranek, the station’s Westmoreland County bureau reporter, doesn’t usually work weekends. But on Saturday during the 5:30 p.m. newscast on PCNC, Havranek was filling in, reporting from outside the Kenny Chesney concert at Acrisure Stadium when his live shot went sideways.

Havranek said bystanders asked if he was going live soon and he expected they would cheer in the background, so he already had plans to acknowledge them. But he did not anticipate what came next.

“I felt hands on my face and I thought they were coming from my right side and were wrapped around me from behind,” he recalled Monday. “A woman tried to grab my face. I had no idea what her intention was. … She came out of nowhere.”

I’m fine, but this isn’t okay.

I’m not the first reporter this has happened to, and sadly won’t be the last.

Don’t mess with a reporter, or anyone, especially while they’re trying to do their jobs. pic.twitter.com/DTkh0L9j5C

— Andrew Havranek ???? (@Andrew_Havranek) June 1, 2024

On TV it appeared the woman was attempting to plant a kiss on Havranek as she approached him from his left.

The woman fell to the ground as Havranek tried to escape her grasp but he had no idea she fell until after the live shot was over. By then she was nowhere to be seen, he said, adding, “I hope she’s OK.”

“A family came over after and said, ‘Are you OK?’ ” Havranek recalled of strangers who checked on him afterward. “They could not believe what happened.”

Havranek said he’s amused by some responses on X/Twitter, where some commenters suggested the Steelers scout Havranek.

Havranek marked 10 years as a professional broadcast journalist on Sunday.

“I love meeting our viewers so if you see me reporting in the field, say hello after I’m done [with a live shot],” he said. “But just as you would not grab the barista at Starbucks or the cashier at Walmart, let us do our jobs. Just don’t grab a reporter like that.”

This is an Aikido move. Impressive

— Adam Mihara (@AdamMihara) June 2, 2024

Nice swim move! @_TJWatt would be proud.

— Nick in Indiana (@chem_prof_nick) June 2, 2024

Channel surfing

Netflix, which recently renewed “3 Body Problem,” confirmed the show will get a second and third season and then conclude its run. … The CW renewed “All American” for a 13-episode seventh season to air in 2025. The CW also renewed “Penn & Teller: Fool Us” for an 11th season and will air season four of “The Chosen” beginning Sept. 1 at 8 p.m. (“The Chosen” season four currently streams on The Chosen app and on linear BYUtv at 9 p.m. Sundays.) … Apple TV+ brings back “Pachinko” for its second season on Aug. 23.