‘We were worried BBC would never call us again’
American academic who became an internet sensation after his live Skype interview was gatecrashed by his children, has finally spoken about his “minor mistake that turned my family into YouTube stars”.
Robert Kelly was discussing the impeachment of South Korea’s president on BBC World News when his children barged into his study in their apartment in Busan, South Korea.
“We understand why people find it enjoyable ... It’s funny,” Kelly told James Menendez, the BBC presenter who conducted the original interview.
“We were worried that the BBC would never call us again. That was our first response – mortification.”
Kelly told the Wall Street Journal his daughter Marion had earlier that day celebrated her birthday at kindergarten. “She was in a hippity-hoppity mood that day because of the school party... As soon as she opened the door I saw her image on my screen.”
Kelly valiantly attempted to guide Marion towards some toys, while hoping the broadcaster might use some video of Park Geun-hye.
However, the channel did not cut away even as his eightmonth-old son, James, sailed through the open door in his baby walker. “Then I knew it was over,” Kelly said.
The fact that many people wrongly assumed that his wife Jung-a Kim was the nanny made Kelly feel “pretty uncomfortable”. His wife, though, was more relaxed. “I hope people just enjoy it and don’t argue over this thing,” she said.