A University of Florida student has stepped forward online after a moment from Saturday's Florida vs Ole Miss football game went viral, after a camera operator's unusual zoom-in caught social media's attention.
What happened during the game
No.21 Florida beat No.4 Ole Miss 52-28, marking the Gators' first win over a top-five opponent since 2018. Midway through the game, with Florida leading 31-21, a camera operator zoomed in on a spectator in the crowd over the course of around five seconds, sparking speculation online about what prompted the shot, with some questioning whether the footage had even been reversed to appear as a zoom-in rather than out.
Who has stepped forward
Peyton Blomquist shared a series of images and video to Instagram, including a screenshot from the viral broadcast clip showing her in the same outfit, captioned "Work the cut." According to her Instagram bio, Blomquist is a student at the University of Florida and a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, reportedly a freshman studying nutritional sciences. Her post has since gained significant attention, growing her following to over 36,000.
The bigger picture
Elsewhere in the game, running backs Jadan Baugh and Duke Clark combined for 268 rushing yards across 41 carries. Gators head coach Jon Sumrall reflected on the team's progress after the win, saying: "It's not asleep, but it ain't fully awake yet. It's being stirred up a little bit. So we're going to get there [...] I promise you, I didn't come here for us to be average."
Since Blomquist publicly self-identified and chose to embrace the attention herself, this is handled differently from cases where someone's identity is revealed without their involvement. Facebook summary (Story 2): An LA news reporter is being praised for her incredible composure after a cockroach crawled across her neck and chest during a live broadcast. Rachel Menitoff continued reporting on an ongoing Southern California heatwave without missing a beat, even as the insect made its way across her. Footage of the moment has since gone viral, with viewers and fellow journalists alike applauding how calmly she handled it. Article (Story 2) (ready to paste into "Paste / Edit HTML"): Headline: Reporter praised for composure after cockroach crawls across her during live broadcast
Los Angeles KTLA 5 reporter Rachel Menitoff has been widely praised online after remaining composed while a cockroach crawled across her neck and chest during a live broadcast covering an ongoing Southern California heatwave.
What happened
Menitoff was reporting live on an extreme heat warning issued by the National Weather Service, with temperatures across the region ranging between 90 and 110 degrees, when the insect appeared. She continued the broadcast without interruption, saying at the time: "And it's a lot more comfortable at this hour, but we're still in the 80s here in the Valley," before continuing: "Overnight temperatures aren't necessarily dropping, and this leads to less recovery time from the daytime heat."
How people reacted
Footage of the moment quickly circulated online, with viewers expressing disbelief at her composure. One person wrote: "How she didn't freak out despite being in camera is beyond me." Another said: "I would have lost my mind, entire day ruined, news reporting OVER." A third suggested she deserved a raise, writing: "If she can remain calm and cool like that, she can report the news anywhere without being afraid."
Her own account of the moment
Reflecting the following day, Menitoff said: "I said to myself, 'Just get through this moment and then kind of shake it off.'" She noted the irony of the situation given the story she was covering, explaining: "Ironically, the story was about the extreme heat in the Valley, and these cockroaches are attracted to the heat and the warm temperatures and our camera lights. So, it was sort of the perfect environment for the roaches." Her colleague, Eric Spillman, added: "I have to hand it to her. She was really calm."
